s'asseoir en tailleur
To say sit cross-legged in French, use s'asseoir en tailleur.
To ask someone to sit this way, say Asseyez-vous en tailleur politely or Assieds-toi en tailleur to a friend or child. Installe-toi en tailleur is a relaxed way to say get settled cross-legged.
What does it mean word for word?
en tailleur literally means as a tailor, after the way tailors traditionally sat while working.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb is reflexive, so the pronoun changes with the subject, as in Assieds-toi and Asseyez-vous.
Did you know?
- The word tailleur is a homonym in French, as it also refers to a woman's classic tailored suit comprising a jacket and a skirt.
- While English speakers may use the phrase 'Indian style', the French version avoids ethnic references entirely by focusing on the professional trade of a tailor.
- The word tailleur is built from the verb tailler, which comes from the Latin word tālea, meaning a 'cutting' or 'slip'.
Examples in context
- Pourriez-vous vous asseoir en tailleur, s'il vous plaît?Could you please sit cross-legged?
- Assieds-toi en tailleur, on a beaucoup à se raconter!Sit cross-legged, we have a lot to catch up on!
- Il est assis en tailleur sur le tapis.He is sitting cross-legged on the rug.
- Il préfère s'asseoir en tailleur sur le tapis.He prefers to sit cross-legged on the rug.
Example conversation
A yoga instructor is guiding a student in a studio.
- ManonGabriel, s'il te plaît, assieds-toi en tailleur.Gabriel, please, sit cross-legged.
- GabrielD'accord, Manon, comme ça ?Okay, Manon, like this?
- ManonOui, c'est parfait, garde le dos droit.Yes, that's perfect, keep your back straight.
- GabrielC'est un peu difficile de s'asseoir en tailleur.It is a bit difficult to sit cross-legged.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries en, tailleur, CC BY-SA 4.0.
