years-old – French expression

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What does ” balais ” mean? How do you say ‘ years old ’ in French? How is it pronounced? How is it used in a French sentence? Listen to Anne, a French native say it at FrenchHour.com.

balais – brooms. In today’s French, the word balais is used to talk about someone’s age. It generally describes an older person, one with many balais – years of age. Careful though, it’s pretty familiar language, use it in the right context – with friends, colleagues, not at your job interview.

* « Il n’a pas pu finir le marathon. Mais il avait au moins 83 balais, alors, chapeau quand même. »

* “He couldn’t finish the marathon. But he was at least 83, so ‘Hats off’ to him anyway.”

Try using this expression at least 3 times today.

More expressions with the word balai:

* Du balai ! – Go away!

* un coup de balai – a wiping out

* con (cuss word) comme un balai – very dumb, very thick

* avoir un balai dans le derrière (vulgar – cul) – to be stuffy

 

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