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Either way is fine, but if you want to sound less pretentious, say "blue" unless you're speaking French. And the next time someone corrects your spelling or grammar, if it's not an obvious typo or error, look it up. When I do, I usually find that the person doing the correcting was wrong because there are multiple acceptable uses and they just don't realize it.
Example: err -- most people pronounce 'err' as in 'air', but an occasional snob will correct you and tell you that it's 'err' as in 'her'. The fact is that they're both correct. Err (her) is kind of an older british pronunciation, so snobs tend to think it's the only correct one, but they're wrong. There are many examples, which bleu vs blue is just one of. Although it's really just the same word in two different languages so it's a bit different in that case.
Location: Montreal -> CT -> MA -> Montreal -> Ottawa
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Quote:
Originally Posted by otterprods
Either way is fine, but if you want to sound less pretentious, say "blue" unless you're speaking French. And the next time someone corrects your spelling or grammar, if it's not an obvious typo or error, look it up. When I do, I usually find that the person doing the correcting was wrong because there are multiple acceptable uses and they just don't realize it.
Example: err -- most people pronounce 'err' as in 'air', but an occasional snob will correct you and tell you that it's 'err' as in 'her'. The fact is that they're both correct. Err (her) is kind of an older british pronunciation, so snobs tend to think it's the only correct one, but they're wrong. There are many examples, which bleu vs blue is just one of. Although it's really just the same word in two different languages so it's a bit different in that case.
That's so interesting about "err" -- I always thought there was only the one pronunciation... like "air."
I thought of the "bleu" vs. "blue" thing, not because I live in a French city, but because I most often see it written as "bleu" (on this forum as well), but sometimes do see it written as "blue." I got curious, that's all. I'm not French or pretentious. Just a curious gal.
I thought of the "bleu" vs. "blue" thing, not because I live in a French city, but because I most often see it written as "bleu" (on this forum as well), but sometimes do see it written as "blue." I got curious, that's all. I'm not French or pretentious. Just a curious gal.
I sometimes write 'blue' just so some snob doesn't come back and correct me, "um, it's not blue cheese..." But I think I sound pretentious too when I say 'bleu' in English.
Location: Montreal -> CT -> MA -> Montreal -> Ottawa
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AnonChick
I spell it bleu because I get a kick out of all the people who think I'm elitist when I do.
Quote:
Originally Posted by otterprods
I sometimes write 'blue' just so some snob doesn't come back and correct me, "um, it's not blue cheese..." But I think I sound pretentious too when I say 'bleu' in English.
It's funny because I write it as "bleu" (because that's how I always see it written, even in the States) but, no matter where I am, I say it as "blue."
I wrote this upthread, but I don't know if you saw it and it's a funny story:
Quote:
...being from Montreal, I'm surrounded by French, of course. When I moved to the States (Connecticut), I went to a bakery with my then-husband and I asked the woman in charge for some croissants that I saw behind the counter. She said, "What? Half a dozen whats?" I repeated the word -- croissants -- and she still didn't understand. My husband whispered to me, "Say it like us Americans say it. You sound pretentious as hell." So, yup, I asked for half a dozen CRESCENTS and we were on our way. I explained to him that I was just saying it "properly" -- he knew that I didn't really speak French, despite being from Montreal -- but he said that people would just think I'm uppity. Ha! They should only know how UN-uppity (downity???) I am. But I got my darn CROISSANTS, so I was happy.
So while I'd never say "bleu" all French-like, I couldn't help but say "croissants" the only way I knew how (until he told me the American way).
It's funny because I write it as "bleu" (because that's how I always see it written, even in the States) but, no matter where I am, I say it as "blue."
I wrote this upthread, but I don't know if you saw it and it's a funny story:
So while I'd never say "bleu" all French-like, I couldn't help but say "croissants" the only way I knew how (until he told me the American way).
Heh - "Crescent rolls." Those are the things that come in the blue Pillsbury wrapper. The other ones that look just like them but you make from scratch, I pronounce (roughly) kwa-SONT with the "w" prounced as an almost-gurgle at the back of my throat.
I always figured it was "blue cheese" and "bleu french-word-for-cheese." If you translate one thing, why not the other?
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