Word up Your French: été
Voilà l'été, voilà l'été ! Summer is finally here, so take out your sunglasses, lather up your skin with a healthy dose of sunscreen, get confy in your hamac and read on!
What exactly does it mean?
I'm sure we're all on board with what l'été is supposed to mean: sun, warmth, holidays, getting a tan, finally being able to wear shorts or dresses, forgetting everything about socks, actually relishing in drinking cold beverages - even if it hurts your teeth - and being generally to unfocused to get any real work done. There, who needs a definition when you can get the whole picture?
NB: the word été is also the past participle of the word être (to be), which is used very often in French, so if you hear someone say 'J'ai été à la piscine', don't immediately assume they spent their summer at the pool.
Where does this amazing word come from?
The noun 'été' comes from Latin aestas, aestus (warmth). Its origin can also be found in the Greek word aíthō, which means ignite, light, burn.
Light, fire, warmth, I think we can all see the pattern here.
Fun facts about summer
- The sun stands the highest in the sky on the summer solstice which is the first day of summer (21 June).
- This first day of summer is when La Fête de la Musique is celebrated all over the world. The concept of World Music Day was created in 1981 by then French Minister of Culture Jack Lang.
- The Eiffel Tower becomes about 15 centimeters higher during the summer. This is due to a natural dilatation of the steel when the temperature rises.
Now we've become well acquainted with summer, it won't be so awkward to spend the next three months together... Passez un bon été !