Cycling home yesterday evening I pedalled past a field full of what looked like rabbits, but they were bigger and had floppier ears.
Hares! = des lièvres in French
I wish I could say it was my photo, but the credit has to go to Gary Bendig / Unsplash
They scampered off fast-kind when I stopped, hoping to get a picture. As fast as I focused on one, another one seemed like a better photo opportunity, until eventually I was left with nothing but a nice picture of an empty West Berkshire field.
I was reminded of the French proverb:
“Qui court deux lièvres à la fois, n’en prend aucun”, which translates as, “Who runs after two hares at the same time, catches none.”
The meaning is clear, n'est-ce pas ?
Concentrate on one task at a time with full attention, if that task is to be well done. e.g. When learning French 😊
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Side note: You know that the English word for a young hare is a leveret?
Like a young swan is a cygnet (swan = un cygne)
I'd like to say at this point "See the pattern?" i.e. the English word for the juvenile animal being taken from the French, while the adult animal is a Germanic word... but I can't think of any more examples.
Can you think of any more?
If you would like to learn French, whether you are a complete beginner, moving up through the gears, or cruising nicely in the fast lane, we have places in our online groups at most levels. If you happen to live in the Reading/West Berkshire area of the UK, and are interested in joining a brand new face-to-face group at lower-intermediate level, please make contact here.
Cordialement
Andrew Wenger, Founder and Director of SameSky Languages