Apr 14, 2009

ET VOILÀ! - LOOK THERE!


So simple and yet so difficult to translate, the expression et voilà most often translates as "and here you are" or "and there you go", and is used by the French on numerous occasions. The origins of voilà are the French verb voir ("to see") and the preposition là ("there"). The phrase vois là ("look there") was eventually contracted into voilà, a very handy word that applies to practically anyone or anything.


Et voilà!
Người mẫu : bé An
- Tờ Lu's ái nữ


A simple sentence such as "Here they come" becomes even simpler in French, with the phrase Les voilà. The reason the English would borrow such a trivial phrase probably has to do with the fact that, while English speakers do have "so there you are," it has neither the ring nor efficiency of a well-delivered Et voilà.

"Say Chic" - by Francoise Balnchard
and Jeremy Leven

A collection of French words we can't live without

No comments: