Cultural context for one of the examples.

MiaA1Kwiziq community member

Cultural context for one of the examples.

Hi, this is more a "is this something people use?"/"What does it mean to the person you say it to" question, not a grammar problem.

The example "La grossesse va bien à ta femme" comes off as eyebrow-raising-rude to my English speaking brain (maybe it's a regional difference? I'm American and from the southeast). Is this something people would actually say/use or would it get you side-eyed around the world? I feel like my brain must be taking it too literally.

Asked 2 years ago
AurélieKwiziq team memberCorrect answer

Bonjour Mia !

I found your question very interesting actually :)
In French, the term "grossesse" is exclusively used to mean pregnancy, and doesn't have any fat-shaming connotation, I'd even say it's the contrary: la grossesse is usually considered a beautiful thing in French culture.

What really struck me is the fact that until I read your comment, I hadn't ever thought of the etymology of the word, and its derivation from gros/grosse! And it reminded me of another way people use grosse in French, when referring to a pregnant animal on a farm for example: 
Ma jument est grosse.    My female horse is pregnant. 
-> The adjective for people is enceinte.

So thank you for this interesting question, it's always fascinating to reflect on one's own language:)

Bonne journée !

MaartenC1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Are you taking it to mean something it doesn't, rather than too literally ?

la grossesse - (the) pregnancy

ChrisC1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

I bet you thought it meant "fat" or "heavy". :)

Cultural context for one of the examples.

Hi, this is more a "is this something people use?"/"What does it mean to the person you say it to" question, not a grammar problem.

The example "La grossesse va bien à ta femme" comes off as eyebrow-raising-rude to my English speaking brain (maybe it's a regional difference? I'm American and from the southeast). Is this something people would actually say/use or would it get you side-eyed around the world? I feel like my brain must be taking it too literally.

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