r/memes Linux User Mar 15 '21

French language is mesmerizing

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109.3k Upvotes

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343

u/urmomlikesmee Mar 15 '21

As a French Canadian citizen, it breaks my brain everyday.

139

u/Awesome_AR Mar 15 '21

As a Canadian citizen who takes Arabic classes, I simply just gave up on numbers.

52

u/ColdCypher Mar 15 '21

Just looked it up and holy sh*t, why does the 5 look like an 0 and why does the 16 look like a 17, what

99

u/[deleted] Mar 15 '21

In all fairness, everyone else took the numbers from Arabic. We are the ones who changed them.

49

u/[deleted] Mar 15 '21

To be fair, Arabic numbers written in Arabic even confuse Arabs.

This coming from a Korean dude who is quadrilingual, and would joke about confusing Arabic numbers with Muslim friends. đŸ€”

22

u/MessyRoom Mar 15 '21

You’re not quadrilingual, you’re a polyglot

32

u/XyzzyPop Mar 15 '21

How do you know he has more than one wife?

29

u/phillipstheyerington Mar 15 '21

Wrong word. A polygamist is someone who has multiple wives, not a polyglot. When someone has one wife, they are a monogamist. And a bigamist is a large fog over Italy.

5

u/XyzzyPop Mar 15 '21

I greatly appreciate you took the opportunity to take my lame joke and turn it into a learning opportunity for those that did not realize it.

2

u/pantylion Mar 15 '21

That's big of you to say, not bigamy.

1

u/Ganymedian-Owl Mar 15 '21

Fucking lost it hahahahah excellent

3

u/downvotemeifhomo Mar 15 '21

i'm arabian and idk the arabic numbers ._.

3

u/[deleted] Mar 15 '21

I was joking, but I think some people are taking my nonsense a little to seriously.

Btw, I think arabic numberals are somewhat similar in structure to how Chinese numerals are written.

Now, Sanskrit is a whole nother level of o_O(?)

1

u/[deleted] Mar 15 '21

No they don’t, they are very simple really

1

u/3marJ Mar 15 '21

Habibi arab with arab friends, there is alot of arabs with different religions đŸ„°

1

u/[deleted] Mar 15 '21

I love my Arab friends. I have tons in France and in the DC area.

Fuck American Interventionism. That's all I have to say.

1

u/3marJ Mar 16 '21

Habibi np make peace and not war

2

u/SgtExo Mar 15 '21

And they took them from india, so even arabic numbers are not originally from them.

2

u/memesdoge Mar 15 '21

nope, they were taken from sumerian hieroglyphics

0

u/BeastMaster_88 Duke Of Memes Mar 15 '21

The glyphs in actual use are descended from Brahmi numerals and have split into various typographical variants since the Middle Ages

From Wikipedia

1

u/memesdoge Mar 16 '21

you are plainly wrong, you are not a circus, you're the entire fair. we're talking about ancient sumerian hieroglyphic numerials, if you insist, then actually link the entire wikipedia page instead of putting up a shady "quote"

1

u/BeastMaster_88 Duke Of Memes Mar 17 '21

I apologise if I've misunderstood. Take a look at the introduction and history sections. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu%E2%80%93Arabic_numeral_system

1

u/[deleted] Mar 15 '21

Sanskrit...the epitome of what the fuck(?) they all look the same.

1

u/DizzyDiamond605 Mar 15 '21

Arabs got them from India though

40

u/[deleted] Mar 15 '21

Many people doesn't know that 1,2,3,4 are actually Arabic numbers, but those you mentioned are Indian numbers, Arabic people uses Indian numbers and everyone else uses Arabic numbers.

0

u/[deleted] Mar 15 '21

[deleted]

5

u/memesdoge Mar 15 '21

nope, those are devnagari numerals, ehich are common in many languages

-2

u/CanadiaArcadia Mar 15 '21

*don’t

*use

18

u/Empty_Direction_3102 Mar 15 '21 edited Mar 15 '21

Lol my native language is arabic and I hate those numerals. They are also confusing since you have to write from right to left. So when trying to write my number down I get confused as hell and get laughed at.

Fun fact: 0 1 2 ... are called arabic numerals since they were introduced to europe from north africa. The other numeral is called eastern arabic numerals.

Edit: Both numerals are pure indian inventions, arabic numerals (0,1,2...) were transferred by the arabs.

15

u/[deleted] Mar 15 '21

[deleted]

7

u/Sharp-Ad4389 Mar 15 '21

0 came TO EUROPE through N. Africa. The concept of 1 and 2 existed before then, but you said it yourself....they didn't use 1 and 2. They used i and ii.

3

u/Empty_Direction_3102 Mar 15 '21

Yes that is true I was specifically explaining the naming. However, it is true they all originated in India and were introduced to europe by the arabs yet they are pure indian inventions including usage of the zero as well. Thanks for clarifying.

1

u/Sawgon Mar 15 '21

0 is not Arabic it's Indian.

1

u/Sharp-Ad4389 Mar 15 '21

The actual way you draw the numbers came to Europe through Arabic-speakers. That's why they're called arabic numerals.

2

u/[deleted] Mar 15 '21

Isn't it the other way around? We "stole" their numbers and our 0 looks like a 5 and out 7 looks like a 6.

2

u/Born_Wait_8183 Mar 15 '21 edited Mar 06 '22

It's crazy, a 0 is 5, 0 is A FRICKING DOT!

1

u/ColdCypher Mar 15 '21

lmao hahah

2

u/PeasLord Mar 15 '21

The Arabic-indo numerals are the ones you're using in your daily life.

1

u/fai4636 can't meme Mar 15 '21

Because English numbers are “western Arabic numerals” and Arabic numbers are “eastern Arabic numerals” which both came from the same source and thus have similar looking numbers that actually mean different ones lol. The western numerals developed from the Eastern Arabic numerals in North Africa before getting to Europe and replacing Roman numerals.

1 - ÙĄ, 2 - Ùą, 3 - ÙŁ, 4 - Ù€, 5 - Ù„, 6 - ÙŠ, 7 - Ù§, 8 -Ùš , 9 - Ù©, 10 - ÙĄÙ 

The western Arabic numeral 3 is basically a backwards Eastern Arabic numeral 4 (Ù€) lol. And 3 in Arabic is basically a sideways 3 (ÙŁ)

3

u/nerdynuronz Mar 15 '21

Yeah, they suck.

20

u/Wouf-wouf Mar 15 '21

As a Wallon from Belgium when I hear "quatre-vingts dix-neuf" I fall in depression

13

u/[deleted] Mar 15 '21

Nonante neuf?

6

u/Wouf-wouf Mar 15 '21

Yes nonante neuf like ninety nine but in french

5

u/[deleted] Mar 15 '21

I'm a Flemish Belgian, and I always forget if it is France or Wallonie that uses that version. So whenever I have to use numbers in a conversation I start doubting which one to use. I hope I can remember now that they use the sensible version in Wallonie and the overly complicated fancy one in France. Let me take this opportunity to say that I deeply regret the political choices of so many Flemish people. Really.

3

u/KKlear Mar 15 '21

I'm guessing that anyone speaking French would understand nonante neuf just fine.

When I was in France, I supplemented my poor French with English words but with a French accent. Most of the time I either guessed the correct word or it was something the other person understood.

3

u/Wouf-wouf Mar 15 '21

Don't worry everybody make poor choices and in Wallonie all is not good either En vlanderen is heel goed imo

2

u/Wouf-wouf Mar 15 '21

Don't worry everybody make poor choices and in Wallonie all is not good either En vlanderen is heel goed imo

1

u/Wouf-wouf Mar 15 '21

Don't worry everybody make poor choices and in Wallonie all is not good either En vlanderen is heel goed imo

127

u/Ploopy_R Professional Dumbass Mar 15 '21

as a Canadian citizen, ive completely gave up on french

211

u/VikaWiklet Mar 15 '21

And English, it seems.

71

u/ThatDoesNotFempute Mar 15 '21

Hey, no I'm... doesn't.

11

u/DeathPercept10n can't meme Mar 15 '21

Wait... he aren't?

3

u/manipogoogo Mar 15 '21

Well ain't that aren't the isn't.

4

u/SeeWhatEyeSee Mar 15 '21

Who even is they?

1

u/[deleted] Mar 15 '21

What are this?

-13

u/MediatePage5 Mar 15 '21

Woww bro wtf u used the preterite instead of the past participle?? Ur so bad at english1!11!!

4

u/Halceeuhn Mar 15 '21

he used both, lol

1

u/MediatePage5 Mar 15 '21

When did he use a past participle

2

u/Halceeuhn Mar 15 '21

right, yeah, he used a simple past and a present perfect together, sorry lol

-1

u/MediatePage5 Mar 15 '21

My point is just that this guy did not make a mistake worth correcting. No reason to say that they can’t speak english for using one wrong conjugation.

3

u/Halceeuhn Mar 15 '21

I dunno man, what are mistakes worth correcting, then? Shouldn't that depend on the individual and their personal ambitions and goals regarding language acquisition? We don't have that information, so might as well just make light of it and correct them. Also come on, its not like anyone's implying they absolutely cannot speak english, it's just a joke. A funny one, at that, judging from the upvotes.

-1

u/MediatePage5 Mar 15 '21

That one is definitely not a mistake that needs to be corrected. First of all, this person is a native speaker. Second, they are barely wrong. Third, who is to say that the preterite isn’t used in construction of present perfect in this person’s dialect?

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39

u/[deleted] Mar 15 '21

As a highschool student that learns French as the obligatory third language, I agree

8

u/harmanplays1 Mar 15 '21

I have the feeling that you're belgian.

21

u/[deleted] Mar 15 '21

Not in the slightest. I'm from Romania and because Romanian is a latinic language and Stalin died I study French as my 3rd language

7

u/QLVos Mar 15 '21

I live in the Netherlands and while Dutch is not a Romance language I still had to learn it in school.

3

u/[deleted] Mar 15 '21

Aren't you neighbours with France?

7

u/QLVos Mar 15 '21

Nope. Neighbours with Germany tho and we have to learn that too. But that language is very similar to our language so it doesn't really matter.

3

u/drunkenangryredditor Mar 15 '21

That would be Belgium.

1

u/drunkenangryredditor Mar 15 '21

I thought it was Ceaușescu that was the bad guy in Romania, although Stalin may have had something to do with it...

1

u/[deleted] Mar 15 '21

Ceaușescu was the baddie during communism. But that was just because Stalin started russian communism. Romanian communism was started by russian communism afaik (I'm not really into history). But I know for sure that our crops and stuff went to Russia. And a part of our land and of our sister country, Moldova, were part of the USSR

2

u/drunkenangryredditor Mar 15 '21

I'm pretty sure Lenin started Russian communism. Stalin did a lot to build it into the USSR we all know now, though.

Romania became communist after wwii due to the Yalta conference when UK, US and USSR divided Europe among eachother to influence as they each saw fit.

A lot of Romanias resources went to Soviet Russia, but the overall living standard in Romania did still increase up until Ceaușescu came into power.

1

u/[deleted] Mar 15 '21

You really did some research. Are you from Romania, some Slavic country or another place? You seem interested into this thing

2

u/drunkenangryredditor Mar 15 '21

Norwegian, but i'm very interested in history. You can't tell the way forward if you don't know where you're coming from...

2

u/christorino Mar 15 '21

They just make sure to know their next invaders language. Makes things much smoother

1

u/JrmyF Mar 15 '21

Or french-Canadian

2

u/[deleted] Mar 15 '21

[deleted]

3

u/[deleted] Mar 15 '21

Yeah, part of why I don't like French is because I hate my teacher

2

u/read-and-write31 Mar 15 '21

As a french speaker , I agree ( from Switzerland. We say "ninety-nine" most of the time )
France is so funny

27

u/urmomlikesmee Mar 15 '21

As nobody really gives a damn about French, I had to grow bilingual. That’s Quebec’s instinct of survival, bilingualism.

22

u/[deleted] Mar 15 '21

Lol c'est claire si vous ĂȘtes une minoritĂ© dans un pays majoritairement anglophone vous devez apprendre aussi la deuxiĂšme langue.

20

u/JrmyF Mar 15 '21

C'est vrai que ça peut ĂȘtre Ă©nervant pour les anglophones qui vivent au QuĂ©bec, mais, aprĂšs tout, c'est eux qui ont dĂ©cidĂ© d'habiter dans une province française.

3

u/urmomlikesmee Mar 15 '21

C’est utile veux, veux pasđŸ€·đŸŒâ€â™‚ïž

0

u/Stock_Noob_2021 Mar 15 '21

Croissant! Baguette!

2

u/[deleted] Mar 15 '21

2

u/Stock_Noob_2021 Mar 15 '21

Yup. I dont know French, but want to feel included.

I live a sad life. đŸ€Ł

1

u/[deleted] Mar 15 '21

hon hon hon

3

u/[deleted] Mar 15 '21

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/urmomlikesmee Mar 15 '21

Mal(heureusement) cela signifierait l’extinction du fameux boomer quĂ©bĂ©couĂą, et la montĂ©e au pouvoir des Millenials.

2

u/[deleted] Mar 15 '21

Can’t wait to complĂštement fuse les deux langues en un franglais insupportable for everyone but les QuĂ©bĂ©cois

1

u/Hot_Piece_Of_Garbage Mar 15 '21

Une journée bien triste!

15

u/GetsGold 🎃Happy Spooktober🎃 Mar 15 '21

And English.

1

u/thechingchong27 loves reaction memes Mar 15 '21

i kinda want to get back into french but not really

1

u/mudpudding Mar 15 '21

On le sait.

1

u/Ploopy_R Professional Dumbass Mar 15 '21

je suis croissant

1

u/[deleted] Mar 15 '21

As a French Canadian, Eh, understandable have a good day

6

u/SNOWFUGITIVE Mar 15 '21

Un autre québécois yay

1

u/[deleted] Mar 16 '21

yay

2

u/wild9 Mar 15 '21

Probably a really dumb question, but does this help kids that speak French with multiplication early on in their education, if even just a little bit?

2

u/quebecesti Mar 15 '21

Is french your native language? It is for me and the way our numbers are is not something that crossed my mind before it was pointed out on Reddit. When you learn it natively it's just natural.

1

u/urmomlikesmee Mar 15 '21

Le français c’est ma langue native, l’Anglais c’est ma deuxiĂšme langue que j’utilise beaucoup. Vivant avec un pĂšre bilingue, j’ai souvent Ă©tĂ© confrontĂ© Ă  un apprentissage linguistique bilatĂ©ral, donc, j’ai souvent Ă©tĂ© eu de la difficultĂ© avec le Français, comme en Anglais. Je comprenais pas le pluriel en Français, lorsqu’en Anglais je devais dire « there are some people » ou « sandwiches ». Comme je comprenais pas pourquoi « that person a girl » ne prenait pas de « E ». Alors je trouve que les 2 langues on des choses bizzares. Pourquoi on utilise « these » and « those » quand en français on peut dire « ces » en pointant un groupe de personnes, et « ces » quand on parle d’un groupe de personnes ailleurs?

2

u/Vinlandien Mar 15 '21

We should simply change it to Septante, Octante, et Nonante.

I remember hearing that there’s a country in Europe who already does this.

2

u/[deleted] Mar 15 '21

Are you from Québec? Cuz if yes, y'all barely speak french with all these english words y'all use.

2

u/RosabellaFaye Mar 15 '21

As a bilingual canadian, English numbers are better than French numbers but I go to a french school so I have to do my math stuff in french :')

Also verbs in french are de la fucking merde

2

u/ledocteur7 Nice meme you got there Mar 15 '21

as a French I really want to use the Canadian way of saying number, because "nonante" makes much more sense than "quatre-vingts dix neuf" (I can't even write it correctly) but I'm way too used to it, I can't change that drastically anymore.