Friday 29 April 2011

Welcome to my Blog

The definition of the French word bienvenue is fairly straightforward. It means "welcome". There are some tips and tricks to using it properly.
The most common mistake people make when using the word bienvenue is choosing the masculine ending when the feminine ending is needed.
When there is no verb in the sentence, you must choose the feminine form. This mistake happens frequently on signs welcoming people in various languages; many people just open a dictionary and choose a form. On a sign, since there is usually no verb preceding the welcome message, one would choose the feminine form.
  • Masculine form: bienvenu
  • Feminine form: bienvenue
Proper use on a sign:
  • Bienvenue (Welcome)
  • Bienvenue tout la monde (all are welcome)
When bienvenue is used with a verb, it should match the gender of the person(s) to whom you are speaking:
  • Soyez le bienvenu.
  • Soyez la bienvenue.
  • Soyez les bienvenus (or bienvenues if it's an all female group). 

Tuesday 26 April 2011