A Question for our French-Canadians......

[TLK]

Slang crosses up GM

by Sun Media posted Oct 16, 2003
By Maryanna Lewyckyj

It's game over for the Buick LaCrosse in Canada. A General Motors executive yesterday admitted that the future Buick model -- which is set to debut late next year -- will be re-named in Canada after GM learned LaCrosse is a Quebec slang term for masturbation.

The new mid-size sedan, which will replace the Buick Regal, will still go by the name LaCrosse in the U.S.

GM vice-chairman Bob Lutz, who was in Toronto yesterday to address a gathering of GM dealers, said he wasn't aware of LaCrosse's racy roots although he speaks French and spent three years living in Paris.

"I thought I knew every expression existing in the French language for self-gratification, including the crudest ones known to man," said the outspoken Lutz.

He told journalists the proposed name for the new Buick has caused "a slight problem with your francophone fellow Canadians."

LINK

So, how do you tell mom and dad that you've been named captain of the Lacrosse team in college?

[Travis]

This is similar to when Canada had Roots for their major sponsor at the Olympics a few years back. Forget what that was slang for in Sydney, but it wasn't good at all.

[FrogMan]

I've got to assume this is addressed to me, as I've not seen many other French-Canadians around here

To answer your question, you just say it, but your mom and/or dad expects you to talk about the sport (which in French is called "la crosse" in two words, while the verb "to masturbate" would be "se crosser") but I agree that this would not be a good name, more like a P/R nightmare, for a car.

As an aside, the shampoo called "Pert" or "Pert plus" in the states is called "Pret" or "Pret plus" in Quebec, as "Pert" would be pronounced as the word "perdre" which means "to lose" and they didn't want the product to be associated with being a loser Also, "Pret" means "ready" in French, which was just fine for them...

FM

[FrogMan]

that VP is kind of an idiot or doesn't know the Quebec market at all if he says he speaks French and didn't know about that term...

Maybe one of our French friend can tell us if the term "se crosser" is known to them...

FM

[FrogMan]

another example of something that isn't used in Quebec is the Toyota sales called "Toyota-thon". While it would be a perfectly usable made-up word, it's ending, "ta-thon" sounds a lot like the slang we can use saying "breast", which would be spelled "toton"... Every time the wife and I hear the name of that sale on a US network TV station, we look at each other and laugh at the idea that they could think about using that slogan in Quebec...

FM

[Maple Leafs]

Originally posted by FrogMan
that VP is kind of an idiot or doesn't know the Quebec market at all if he says he speaks French and didn't know about that term...

Based on the comment about him living in Paris, it sounds like he thinks Quebec french and real french are the same language. Poor guy.

[bbor]

POUTINE!

[FrogMan]

Yeah, ML, I think you are right. This is one of the things that saddens me the most with our government, that they think we have more in common with the people from France than with either the English Canadians or the Americans... Don't get me started on the whole separation thing...

ABSOLUTELY no offense meant to my French cousins on this board, please don't take me wrong! I just feel my living style is much more North American (thus the "more in common" with English Canadians and Americans" comment) than European...

FM

[FrogMan]

Originally posted by bbor
POUTINE!

I knew bbor would show up sooner or later... Just for you bbor...
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FM

[johnnyshaka]

Originally posted by Travis
This is similar to when Canada had Roots for their major sponsor at the Olympics a few years back. Forget what that was slang for in Sydney, but it wasn't good at all.

In Australia...root means to fornicate.

I'm of french Canadian heritage...but, was raised in Ontario...so, most of the french I learned from mom was no where near the sexual slang you guys speak of here.

Good to know though...I've got buddies working for the Federal Gov't in Gatineau, Quebec and would love some new ammo to piss off their co-workers!!!

[fantastic flying froggies]

Originally posted by FrogMan
Maybe one of our French friend can tell us if the term "se crosser" is known to them...

FM

Never heard of that one, cousin !

A more common expression for us frenchies would be "se branler".

[Bee]

You French have a different word for everything!

[Fritz]

Whats the problem? I would buy an AMC Monkey Spanker if such a car existed.