garçon de la campagne
The English phrase 'country boy' can be translated into French as garçon de la campagne.
This phrase is used to describe a male who was born or raised in a rural area.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of garçon (boy), de la (of the) and campagne (countryside/rural area).
Which one should you use?
While garçon de la campagne is a standard way to express the idea, un gars de la campagne is a more colloquial and common way to say 'a country guy' in everyday speech.
Did you know?
- The word garçon shares an ancient root with the English word 'wretch'. Both words trace back to a Proto-Germanic term for an 'exile' or 'outcast'.
- In French, campagne can refer to the rural countryside or a military 'campaign'. This dual meaning comes from the Latin root for an open field.
- French speakers often use the term plouc as a derogatory slang word for a gars de la campagne. It implies a lack of sophistication or a 'hick' persona.
Examples in context
- Tom est un garçon de la campagne.Tom is a country boy.This sentence is useful for identifying someone as a garçon de la campagne.Tatoeba #10282565 by Micsmithel, translation #5986873 by Hybrid
- Je suis un garçon de la campagne.I'm a country boy.This sentence is useful for expressing that you are a garçon de la campagne.Tatoeba #10282570 by Micsmithel, translation #5221355 by CK
- Une chose que tu devrais savoir, à mon sujet, est que je suis vraiment un garçon de la campagne, au fond du cœur.Something you should know about me is that I'm very much a country boy at heart.This sentence is useful for describing yourself as being a garçon de la campagne at heart.Tatoeba #2009728 by sacredceltic, translation #954300 by CK
- Dans le village, il y a un gamin de la campagne qui est très talentueux en agriculture.In the village, there is a country boy who is very talented in agriculture.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nathan and Manon are talking about their childhoods at a cafe.
- ManonTu es un garçon de la campagne, n'est-ce pas ?You are a country boy, aren't you?
- NathanOui, j'ai grandi dans un petit village.Yes, I grew up in a small village.
- ManonC'est charmant, moi je suis née en ville.That's charming, I was born in the city.
- NathanOn a des vies très différentes alors.We have very different lives then.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries campagne, de, garçon, la, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
