Sauce or sausage
A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing! I always attempt to speak at least some French to try to initially get by in France. However, I only know basic key holiday words. Once, when we were waiting behind an English couple at une friterie in Honfleur, they asked for "Two portions of chips please". The lady duly went to fry them.As she was doing so the man shouted "What sauces do you have?" To which the lady replied: Oui, une? Deux? and was about to start to cook something else. I pointed out to them that the lady thought he was asking for une saucisse, a sausage. In all the commotion of the man attempting to stop her, they all stood motionless and looked at me for further translation, to which I could only humbly reply "tomato ketchup"! Oh, how stupid I felt. Needless to say, I have now started French classes.
Editor's note: The phrases needed here are: Deux portions de frites, s'il vous plaît, two portions of chips please, and vous avez quelles sauces?, what sauces do you have?
Sent by: Pam
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If it's any consolation, Pam, it can happen the other way round as well. In Canada my French-speaking waitress asked me (in English) whether I would like strawberry or chocolate sausage on my ice cream!
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