Welcome to the A to Z Challenge!
Today one word for the letter Q
* one French word with several meanings in France and the USA, some similar, some different
Thank you, Dan, for suggesting the word Queue when I was scratching my head.
QUEUE
Ce mot français offre une large palette de sens que tous les français connaissent.
Aux Etats Unis, le mot Queue est aussi utilisé mais dans des contexte plus limités.
Par exemple, il est très rare et franchement bizarre de dire que l’on fait la queue aux USA, même si le mot queue figure dans le dictionnaire pour décrire l’acte d’attendre dans une file de gens ou de véhicules.
Les américains “wait or stand in line” et si vous voulez savoir où est la queue, vous demanderez, “Where is the line ?” Ou “Are you in line?”
The French word Queue means Tail and is used in many different contexts. I list a few below and I’m sure I forgot some.
Queue is used to describe the tail of an animal but also the tail of a plane or the tail of a storm. It is also used to designate the handle of a pan, the cherry stem or the last cars of a train. It is also how the group of more mediocre students that lag behind the best is depicted.
Although the word Queue can be used in the USA in order to describe the act of waiting in line, it’s quite rare and a little strange. I don’t think I ever heard anyone asking me if I was standing in queue. On the other hand, this is the proper way to say it in French.
The French font la queue when the Americans stand or wait in line.
Queue is also the cue used to strike a ball in pool or billiards.
Less expected maybe Queue de pie (magpie) is how a tailcoat or tails is called in France.
The word Queue is used both in France and the USA with a similar meaning in the high tech terminology.
For example, when a series of instructions are stored in a computer so that they can be processed later. Or still when different jobs remain in the printer queue.
One of the most popular French expressions is A la Queue Leu Leu. I wrote about it last year in my Series French Idioms from A to Z. You can heard from my blog post how it’s pronounced.
Do you know of a French or English word starting with the letter Q that has a different meaning whether it’s used in France or the USA?
Connaissez-vous un mot français ou anglais commençant par la lettre Q qui a un sens différent selon qu’il soit utilisé en France ou aux Etats Unis?
See you tomorrow with the letter R
Evelyne Holingue 
We queue up in Britain! Then we have to remember that the US version is different, although we seem to import a lot of expressions from the USA. OK? for one. @suesconsideredt from Sue’s Trifles
and Sue’s words and pictures
And the British know how to queue, like my friend Andrea, below, reminded me! Thanks, Sue.
Printer queue is indeed a strange word, especially given it’s pronunciation. I like the tail interpretation. –Curt
I left some out, but it’s funny how a simple word can indeed have so many meanings. See you, Curt.
Wow – this was even more interesting than I imagined. I guess, based on the school children meaning, that I have been part of a queue, many times. Thanks for the mention.
You started it! To be honest I didn’t realize that I would find so many when I wrote my post. Thanks again, Dan.
Queue is very common in England, but then we’re famous for the way we queue 🙂
Right! I love the way you and the Americans queue. Lessons to learn for the more unruly people. 😊
I believe the same word also means a Chinese man’s long braid. Which would be much like the French meaning.
I believe you are right. It is indeed how we call a ponytail in French. I forgot that one, although I used to wear a ponytail when I was a girl.
Thank you!
Hi Evelyne, am I right in thinking that the French also use ‘queue’ for a snooker cue?
Yes, it is used for pool, billiards and snooker alike. Thanks for another visit as I plow my way toward the final line. 😊