Learning French: the different meanings behind guirlande
A handy guide to distinguish fairy lights from tinsel
This multi-purpose word pops up a lot in French
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Guirlande is one of those multi-purpose words you will be hearing or seeing a lot of in France, especially around Christmas time.
As a general rule of thumb, you can use this word to refer to a decorative strip that can be hung or strung.
The word garland also exists in English, as well as the verb ‘to garland,’ referring to the act of decorating.
However, the English language also features more commonly-used, specific terms to describe exactly the kind of garlands we wish to refer to.
It can also refer to a string of flowers and leaves, worn around someone’s neck or head in cultural or religious celebrations.
From fairy lights to tree tinsel, we will look at how to make yourself understood when referring to a guirlande.
The festive guirlande
Many people enjoy decorating their homes to celebrate the festive season. This often includes hanging branches, leaves and twinkly lights over stair banisters or mantle pieces.
Christmas garland - Guirlande de Noël
Tinsel - Guirlande
Paper chain - Guirlande en papier
Bead chain - Guirlande de perles
Read also: Festive French phrases and words for the Christmas period
The flashy guirlande
One of the best-selling home decorations this year, according to Le Monde newspaper, is a guirlande guinguette, featuring coloured light bulbs typically used to festoon terraces or outdoor spaces.
Fairy lights or tree lights - Guirlande électrique/lumineuse
Christmas lights - Illuminations de Noël
Patio string lights - Guirlande guinguette
Read also: French driver warned for Christmas lights on car: road safety laws explained
The floral or flag guirlande
This word can also refer to a floral arrangement in the form of a necklace, wreath or hanging decoration.
Floral chain arrangement - Guirlande de fleurs
Wreath - Couronne
Bunting - Guirlande de fanions, or drapeaux et banderoles, or pavoisement
Read also: Rediscovering guinguettes: The charm of riverside dining in France
Enguirlander
You may think that the verb enguirlander is linked to decorating with Christmas lights or tinsel and you would be correct.
However, it is also used as an informal term for telling someone off and reprimanding them.
So, while j'ai enguirlandé le sapin hier means 'I decorated the Christmas tree yesterday', je me suis fait enguirlandé hier means 'I was told off yesterday'.
It is thought that enguirlander is used for this negative term as a replacement for the more forceful engueler, in the same way someone might say purée or punaise rather than putain.
