lèche-vitrine
In French, window shopping is translated as lèche-vitrine.
The term refers to the activity of looking at goods displayed in shop windows without the intention of making a purchase. You typically use it with the verb faire to describe the act of going window shopping.
What does it mean word for word?
The term lèche-vitrine is a compound word. It combines lèche (derived from the verb lécher, meaning to lick) and vitrine (meaning shop window), which literally translates to "window-licker".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In France, and specifically in Paris, people often use the phrase flâner devant les vitrines to mean strolling in front of the shop windows.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the activity, use the construction faire du lèche-vitrine. This combines the verb faire with the partitive article du.
Did you know?
- While lèche-vitrine is the standard term, the verb flâner describes a specific Parisian art of strolling without a destination. To flâner is to be a 'flâneur', a figure celebrated in 19th-century French literature as an observant wanderer of the city.
- Because it implies an obsessive focus on the glass, calling someone a lèche-vitrine can occasionally sound slightly mocking or derogatory, as if they are 'licking' the glass with their eyes.
- The word vitrine shares a root with the English word 'vitreous', meaning glass-like. Both derive from the Latin word vitrum, which refers to glass.
Examples in context
- Dans Tokyo, à Ikebukuro, il y a de très bons endroits pour faire du lèche-vitrine.In Ikebukuro, Tokyo, there are some really good places to do window shopping.This sentence describes good locations for doing lèche-vitrine.Tatoeba #11943274 by zogwarg, translation #11943287 by zogwarg
- Je fais du lèche-vitrines.I'm window-shopping.This sentence is used to say that you are currently doing lèche-vitrine.Tatoeba #11945645 by Fenrir, translation #11945648 by Fenrir
- J'adore passer du temps à regarder les vitrines des boutiques chic.I love spending time looking at the shop windows of chic boutiques.
- On va zyeuter les vitrines du quartier avant de décider où manger.We're going to check out the neighborhood shop windows before deciding where to eat.
- Les Champs-Élysées offrent les meilleures vitrines pour flâner en soirée.The Champs-Élysées offers the best shop windows to stroll in the evening.
- On fait un peu de lèche-vitrine ?Shall we do a bit of window shopping?
Example conversation
A couple walking through a shopping district on a Saturday afternoon.
- ManonJe n'ai pas envie d'acheter grand-chose aujourd'hui.I don't feel like buying much today.
- NathanPas de problème, on peut juste faire du lèche-vitrine.No problem, we can just do some window shopping.
- ManonC'est une excellente idée, Nathan.That is an excellent idea, Nathan.
- NathanRegarde ces jolies chaussures dans cette vitrine !Look at those pretty shoes in that window!
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
