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Glossary of terms for travellers

3K views 42 replies 14 participants last post by  HermanHymer 
#1 ·
Having read a lot of foreign travel posts lately, I wondered if it might be useful to fill this thread with useful information, such as what on earth is a Jeton, I can't be the only one who is clueless, you can of course Google stuff, but this forum is after all called facts so lets have some, but keep it to information and not chat please.
 
#3 ·
Borne: the service area of aire, sometimes a commercially made and easily recognisable unit where toilet emptying, grey water dump and fresh water fill up are located, on many older aires they will be locally made ranging from very good to bloody awful.

The commercially made ones normally require some payment ranging from coins, credit cards and sometimes jetons.

.
 
#5 ·
Also useful to learn the local slang which might improve your chances of a good response.

So rather than ask for a bierre or cerveza which I think means bottles I ask for une pression in France and una cana in Spain which I think means draught and una copa for a glass of wine.

I do know other phrases other than those for alcohol ?????????? and I am happy to be corrected if necessary.
 
#6 ·
Camping Car

What the French call motorhomes.

Peage

A way of ripping off motorists to drive on some French motorways, sometimes referred to as a "Road Toll"

Rappel

Technically "recall" used to remind you of a speed limit.

Bouchon

Technically "plug" but used as a warning for possible traffic queues

[Vent

Wind (as in cross-wind on a road.

Merde

Slang for excrement.

Flic

Slang for a rozzer!

Andy
 
#7 ·
Europeans have the expression Le Brexiteer I'm not sure what it means yet but I'm sure I won't like it
 
#8 ·
week-end.....weekend
marketing.....marketing
jogging.........jogging
camping........camping
networking ....networking
business.........business
digital.............digital
global..............global
smartphone......smartphone
leader...............leader
chatter (to chat)......chatter
checker (to check)....checker
email...............email
manager...........manager
brainstorming..... brainstorming
footing (jogging)
after-work (after-hours partying)
zapping (channel surfing)
flipper (pinball)

parking (parking lot)
basket (basketball or sneaker)
relooking (makeover)
break (break in relationship)
baby-foot (table football)
brushing (brushing hair while blow drying)
scotcher (to tape, to immobilize)
pull (sweater)
lifting (facelift)
slip (underwear)

Vive la difference!

Relooking and scotcher are my favourites.
 
#15 ·
I keep a spreadsheet with details and costs of our journeys......................of course I look up the exchange rate each time in case I need to change it in the formulas.

I remember on our second trip also looking up the rate of kms to miles, in case......................I won't go on
 
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#18 ·
Portuguese. Of which we have learnt shamefully little.
Bom......good
Bom dia....good day
Obrigado...thanks (male)
Obrigada....thanks (female)
Autocaravan....Motorhome
Sim/não..........yes/no
 
#19 ·
We had a very noisy group of French on a recent trip.Up early shouting Bonjour.........Ca Va to each other right across the campsite.

All this despite my French friend asking them to keep it down....................I said to him that I wanted to know the French word for "consideration" so I could shout it out.

There isn't one............ he replied laughing
 
#21 ·
Well

I’m probabally upsetting all

This thread is crap

It’s just people indulging in rubbish

Spacerunner, Nicholson , ploddy

Well alright

Even Webby

Sorry webby not you

I already have you down for rubbish my bouncing bunny

But I’m so enjoying the freedom

Do I care what you all think ?

You bet I don’t

Although some give me I slight wobble

Because once I did

Sandra
 
#23 ·
Well there you go Sandra: that was Pudsey's original request.

Instead of telling us that you don't find the contributions funny or wandering off on one of your usual highly spaced rants about other contributors, WHY DON'T YOU GIVE US THE WISDOM WHICH YOU HAVE ACQUIRED REGARDING FOREIGN TERMINOLOGY? :kiss::kiss::kiss:

Thanks in advance - Gordon
 
#24 · (Edited)
Aldra, all the words I have posted are in common use in France and Portugal. They are English words absorbed into the French language or words common to both languages. The French language has many shortfalls and often has to borrow words from richer languages. Some examples are ‘knockouter’, boxing, football, weekend etc.
So get off your high horse and stop spouting rubbish.
 
#25 ·
Wasn’t aware I was on a high horse

I blame that Barry for his contribution which I opened in all innocence

Pudsey request was straight forward and to the point

Obviously I know what a Jeton is but someone already answered that, I also know many French words although as Albert speaks French it’s not a problem

I interpreted the OPs post as looking for words that would relate toMHome travel and much can easily be understood once you are travelling in Europe

Jetons,bourne types etc are quite easily found although can be a bit daunting at first encounter

As can getting a jeton if you arrive late so we always travel with water on board just in case

Sandra
 
#29 ·
In answer to Sandra saying "This thread is crap" a couple of days ago, what about the "The last member to post here blah, blah, blah" thread where all you get is "I'm last" ...... "No, I'm last" ...... "No, it's me" ad infinitum. Just WHAT is the point of it?
I tried to explain

I think it set out to be a serious thread

Or at least I thought it was a serious thread

But somehow it got waylayed by jokes and innuendoes

But pudsey is happy with that it seems , so I am wrong

The last member thread?

Well it never set out to be a serious thread

It's just a bit of fun :grin2:

Harms no one , surely you never click on it ?

I guess you do to criticise it :wink2:

But strangely sparked up friendships

Have you ever seen a cross word on there ?

And yet we all know each other

It's not judgemental

So obviously won't suit many of you

A thread so easy to ignore, affects you not

So why bring it up ?

To insult me ?

Shame on you

Sandra
 
#27 ·
I wish she'd just bugger off altogether, I used to have time for her but now it's all me me me.


Profuse apologies to all Sandras friends.
 
#30 ·
I wish she'd just bugger off altogether, I used to have time for her but now it's all me me me.

Profuse apologies to all Sandras friends.
Don't apologise

Why ?you've posted an insulting comment

Buy apologising you are really saying I shouldn't have any friends by your reckoning

I'll take a while to absorb your post

Give me time to get Albert home and over his op , and cancer scans clear, at least on this cancer

Come on three separate cancers to fight ,now that's impressive

We are juggling the five year survival rates

Regather my strength

And come back fighting fit

No that's not what you want?

Come on if I do you can continue to insult me

I guess you can and will anyway

At least you've got backup

Sandra
 
#28 ·
Well I’m not going too Pudsey
Bugger off that is
I was merely commenting on the silly answers on what I thought was a serious thread, and not in any way having a go at you

If I disrupt a thread it’s jumped on....not one rule for all it seems

I’m sorry if my latest posts have been about Alberts bowel cancer diagnosis and surgery

If that makes it all me me, I must admit we both have been and still are very anxious

However he has come through the surgery well, missing a large part of his bowel though

You may or not be pleased to know

But of course you had no reason to read them so I’m not sure what your gripe is

Maybe you just want to jump on the bandwagon

As to memory ,never have I over the years ever directly insulted you

And we do go back years

Sandra
 
#32 ·
Why not indeed
Is that meant to intimidate ?

Is there a specific number we are allowed to post that I’m not aware of

Or am not supposed to post at all, having been judged and found wanting

Do you you really get a kick out of trying to harris me

Or is your your ?

No I’m going there

At least not yet

Sandra
 
#33 ·
Ops this is two again

Am I wrong in thinking you could give me a break to process alberts bowel cancer

His op and the wait for results

And at least get him home

Or does that make me a weakling and easy to attack in your books ?

I’m so disappointed at the continuing attacks

Give me time I’ll come back

Just now I’ve more worrying things that consume me

Sandra
 
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