restances
feminine, plural
The English phrase "staycation" can be translated into French as restances. Wiktionary also lists balconville.
Meaning: vacation spent at or close to home (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | Note |
|---|---|
| restances | feminine, plural |
| balconville | Quebec, feminine |
This term refers to a vacation spent at or close to home.
Which one should you use?
The plural feminine form restances is the default term, while balconville is a specific coinage used in a particular region.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Quebec, the term balconville is used to mean staycation.
How does it change in a sentence?
The forms provided are feminine and either plural (restances) or feminine (balconville).
Did you know?
- The Quebec term balconville blends the word balcon with the suffix -ville to create an imaginary city located on one's own balcony.
- In certain French-speaking regions, the concept of a staycation is linked to the 'slow tourism' movement. This movement encourages people to rediscover their immediate surroundings rather than traveling long distances.
- While balconville is widely understood in Canada, using it in France might leave a listener confused as it is a regional Québécois expression.
Examples in context
- Pendant les vacances, je prévois un séjour à domicile pour me reposer et profiter de ma ville natale.During the holidays, I'm planning a staycation to relax and enjoy my hometown.
- Ces vacances, je vais opter pour des vacances à domicile pour recharger mes batteries et profiter de mon jardin.This holiday, I will choose a staycation to recharge my batteries and enjoy my garden.
- Après une année chargée, j'ai décidé de prendre du repos chez moi durant ces vacances.After a busy year, I have decided to take a staycation at home during these holidays.
- Pendant les vacances, on passe de superbes vacances à la maison, à se détendre en famille.During the holidays, we have amazing staycations at home, relaxing with family.
- Ce week-end, j'ai décidé de rester chez moi et de profiter d'un bon livre. Un vrai séjour à la maison !This weekend, I decided to stay at home and enjoy a good book. A true staycation!
Example conversation
Emma and Gabriel are discussing their summer plans.
- EmmaTu pars où pour les vacances, Gabriel ?Where are you going for the holidays, Gabriel?
- GabrielJe ne pars pas, je fais des restances.I'm not going away, I'm having a staycation.
- EmmaC'est une bonne idée pour se détendre.That is a good idea to relax.
- GabrielOui, je vais profiter de ma ville.Yes, I am going to enjoy my city.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “staycation” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
