I thought I'd rip off Oldbus's work in the Useful Thread section and do a French one.
Retro cars have the most interesting expressions.
I've tried to just put things you wouldn't find on translation sites.
I'll see what I can add later.
Feel free to ask for anything more.
Dans son just
In it's juice!
(This means it'll have quite a lot of rust, patina, and other things like flats tyres, broken glass etc.)
En l'état
In the state it is
(This is mainly to say it hasn't got an MOT, and wouldn't get through one either)
D'origine
Stock, factory spec
Occasion
Used
(they have an expression for second hand "seconde/deuxième main/2e main" but it's rarely used)
Propiètaire
Owner
A voir!
Must be seen!
(As in, you need to see it to appreciate it's condition)
A revoir - ex: freins à revoir
(litterally "to be looked at again") Needs work
(Not to be confused with "A voir"!!!)
Toutes options (ttes opt.)
(Has all gadgets and equipment that were available)
Part toutes distances
Will travel any distance
(That doesn't mean the owner will deliver, it means the car doesn't break down)
Livraison possible
Can be delivered
Prix ferme
Fixed price
(Won't budge!)
Etat concours
Show-worthy condition
Révisée
Serviced
Saine
Healthy (in regards to rust and knocks)
(Non-) roulante
(not) driveable
Aucun frais
No jobs needed doing (litterally "no costs")
Dort dans garage
Sleeps in a garage
(Aww...)
Notice
Instruction Manual
Arceau
Rollcage/Rollbar
Capote
The soft top
Abbreviations and acronyms
Vds - Vends
for sale
(maybe obvious but worth stating!)
Ach - Achète
Buying, looking to buy
Ech - Echange
Swap
CT - Contrôle Technique
MOT
(done after 3 years for a new car, then every 2 years)
(Usually you see "CT OK" or even better "CT vierge" for a completely clear MOT)
(Cars over 25yrs can be exempt, but this will soon change)
(Sans CT means without MOT)
B.(V.)A. - Boîte (de Vitesses) Auto
Auto gearbox
JA - Jantes Alliage
Alloy wheels
V.E. - Vitres Electriques
Electric windows
Clim - Climatisation
Air-conditioning, climate control
CG - Carte Grise
(litterally grey card) french V5
(For classic car status: CGC, carte grise classique as opposed to CGN, normale)
(CGF = CG Française)
av. - avant
Front
ar. - arrière
Rear
T.B.E. - Très Bon Etat
Very good condition
T.B.E.G. - Très Bon Etat Général
Very good general condition, very good condition on the whole with some dodgy bits
(Cheaky! They say this instead of just saying good condition)
B.E.
Good condition
B.E.G.
(You get the idea)
A Déb - A débattre
Negociable
int. - Intérieur
Interior
ext. - extérieur
exterior
D.A. - Direction Assistée
Power steering
t.d.b. - Tableau De Bord
Dashboard
T.O. - Toit Ouvrant
Sunroof
carr. - carrosserie
bodywork
V.T. - Vitres teintées
tinted windows
F.C. - Fermeture centralisée
Central locking
Retro cars have the most interesting expressions.
I've tried to just put things you wouldn't find on translation sites.
I'll see what I can add later.
Feel free to ask for anything more.
Dans son just
In it's juice!
(This means it'll have quite a lot of rust, patina, and other things like flats tyres, broken glass etc.)
En l'état
In the state it is
(This is mainly to say it hasn't got an MOT, and wouldn't get through one either)
D'origine
Stock, factory spec
Occasion
Used
(they have an expression for second hand "seconde/deuxième main/2e main" but it's rarely used)
Propiètaire
Owner
A voir!
Must be seen!
(As in, you need to see it to appreciate it's condition)
A revoir - ex: freins à revoir
(litterally "to be looked at again") Needs work
(Not to be confused with "A voir"!!!)
Toutes options (ttes opt.)
(Has all gadgets and equipment that were available)
Part toutes distances
Will travel any distance
(That doesn't mean the owner will deliver, it means the car doesn't break down)
Livraison possible
Can be delivered
Prix ferme
Fixed price
(Won't budge!)
Etat concours
Show-worthy condition
Révisée
Serviced
Saine
Healthy (in regards to rust and knocks)
(Non-) roulante
(not) driveable
Aucun frais
No jobs needed doing (litterally "no costs")
Dort dans garage
Sleeps in a garage
(Aww...)
Notice
Instruction Manual
Arceau
Rollcage/Rollbar
Capote
The soft top
Abbreviations and acronyms
Vds - Vends
for sale
(maybe obvious but worth stating!)
Ach - Achète
Buying, looking to buy
Ech - Echange
Swap
CT - Contrôle Technique
MOT
(done after 3 years for a new car, then every 2 years)
(Usually you see "CT OK" or even better "CT vierge" for a completely clear MOT)
(Cars over 25yrs can be exempt, but this will soon change)
(Sans CT means without MOT)
B.(V.)A. - Boîte (de Vitesses) Auto
Auto gearbox
JA - Jantes Alliage
Alloy wheels
V.E. - Vitres Electriques
Electric windows
Clim - Climatisation
Air-conditioning, climate control
CG - Carte Grise
(litterally grey card) french V5
(For classic car status: CGC, carte grise classique as opposed to CGN, normale)
(CGF = CG Française)
av. - avant
Front
ar. - arrière
Rear
T.B.E. - Très Bon Etat
Very good condition
T.B.E.G. - Très Bon Etat Général
Very good general condition, very good condition on the whole with some dodgy bits
(Cheaky! They say this instead of just saying good condition)
B.E.
Good condition
B.E.G.
(You get the idea)
A Déb - A débattre
Negociable
int. - Intérieur
Interior
ext. - extérieur
exterior
D.A. - Direction Assistée
Power steering
t.d.b. - Tableau De Bord
Dashboard
T.O. - Toit Ouvrant
Sunroof
carr. - carrosserie
bodywork
V.T. - Vitres teintées
tinted windows
F.C. - Fermeture centralisée
Central locking
No problem.
Aw cheers guys.
