Among French-speaking Cameroonians and French speakers, when it comes to informal expressions, misunderstandings or even disagreements can sometimes arise. Here are some examples of innocent and harmless expressions used by Cameroonians, which may unfortunately mistakenly offend our French friends.
“Tu as bandé ? “
In Cameroon, the term “bander” is exclusively used to describe the action of applying a bandage or dressing. In France, although this meaning is less common, the expression is more often used to describe an erection.
“Ne me doigte pas !”
Among French speakers, whether in Cameroon or in France, the expression “doigter quelqu’un” is used to describe the stimulation of female genitalia. However, in land of the Indomitable Lions, this expression has a completely different meaning and simply refers to pointing at someone with a finger.
“Torche ici s’il te plaît”
Another usage of the word “torcher” in this magnificent Central African country is to point a flashlight or direct its beam to a specific place. This meaning has nothing to do with the action of cleaning one’s behind, as it is commonly understood in French-speaking countries.
“Il m’a souillé !”
This phrase can be interpreted with a heavy meaning, as it is frequently associated with sexual assault or even rape in France. However, in my country, its meaning is much lighter, as it simply expresses the feeling of being embarrassed or ashamed. Thus, “il m’a souillé” actually means “he embarrassed me” or “he made me feel ashamed”.
“Ma femme est grosse.”
Lesser and lesser used in France, it is important to clarify that this expression in my country is neither an insult nor an act of disrespect, but rather a way of indicating that a woman is pregnant.
“C’est la magie condom !”
This expression is used to express amazement (positive or negative), extreme satisfaction, or extreme disappointment. It has absolutely nothing to do with condoms, as any French speaker might think.
“Il est un noyeur.”
In Camfranglais, “un noyeur” refers to someone who, intentionally or not, hinders another person from achieving something beneficial for themselves, while they themselves pursue the same thing. Thus, when someone says “tu me noies,” it indicates a certain form of deception, and thus has no connection to attempted murder, as the verb “noyer” means to drown.
“Coller la petite.”
The act of “coller” in Cameroonian context means dancing closely with a girl from behind. More broadly, this expression also means having a great party.
“Oui non!”
When you ask a question to a Cameroonian, and they respond with “oui non”, meaning “yes no”, they absolutely aren’t making fun of you. In reality, the use of “non” at the end of any sentence in Camfranglais is meant to reinforce the obviousness of the sentence’s content. Thus, “oui non” is equivalent to saying “of course”.
“C’est la mort !”
When something is incredibly good, excellent, or even perfect, French-speaking Cameroonians tend to use the expression “c’est la mort!” to express their enthusiasm. This stands in complete contrast to the original meaning of the phrase, as it is used to signify extreme satisfaction rather than death.
I hope this article has shed light on the specific expressions used in Cameroon, and will help our French-speaking friends avoid being offended by our linguistic nuances.
Thanks to my main source
