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The French sentence "Je ne suis pas né de la dernière pluie"
Get ready to learn all the things you want to know about the basic French idiom "Je ne suis pas né de la dernière pluie". Including a complete guide of what it mean and how you can use it in a casual conversation with an audio example. Not to mention the cool stuff we added like synonyms, slow pronunciation audio, dialogue example and more!
Translation in English
Translation : I'm not a fool
Literal meaning : I wasn't born during the last rain
Register : Informal - Basic
How to pronounce it?
IPA : / ʒə nə sɥi pa ne də la dɛʁnjɛʁ plɥi /
What does it mean?
Definition
The literal meaning is:
- Je → I
- ne suis pas → am not
- né(e) → born
- de → of/from
- la dernière → the last
- pluie → rain
This expression from the 20th century indicates that age and experience are an advantage. The younger you are, the more naïve you probably are. So imagine how naïve someone born during the last rain would be...
How to use
If someone underestimates your experience or tries to scam you, use this expression to remind them that you are not a fool.
For example, if someone tells you: "Donnez-moi tout votre argent. Je vous rendrai le double, c'est promis !" (Give me all your money. I will give you back double, I promise!)
It's probably a good idea to say: "Non. Je ne suis pas né(e) de la dernière pluie." (No. I'm not a fool.)
Fun fact
There are many similar French expressions as you will see in the next section. My favorite is the one with the monkey, and you?
Synonyms / Related
Ne pas être tombé de la dernière pluie → To not have felt during the last rainNe pas être né de la dernière couvée → To not be born from the last broodAvoir déjà vu neiger→ To have already seen snowPrendre pour un lapin de six semaines → To mistake for a six weeks old rabbitCe n'est pas aux vieux singes qu'on apprend à faire des grimaces → You don't teach old monkeys how to wince
And also...
Tu n'es pas né de la dernière pluie → You weren't born during the last rainIl n'est pas né de la dernière pluie → He wasn't born during the last rainElle n'est pas née de la dernière pluie → She wasn't born during the last rainNous ne sommes pas nés de la dernière pluie → We weren't born during the last rainVous n'êtes pas nés de la dernière pluie → You weren't born during the last rain Ils ne sont pas nés de la dernière pluie → They weren't born during the last rainElles ne sont pas nées de la dernière pluie → They weren't born during the last rain
↓ Example in a story with slow French audio ↓
Finally, let's see an example in a parallel story with slow audio.
On the way to France
Joe a toujours été fasciné par la France : son histoire, sa culture, la langue française et, bien sûr, la cuisine française.
Joe has always been fascinated by France: its history, its culture, the French language and, of course, French cuisine.
Il a donc toujours rêvé de visiter la France.
So he has always dreamed of visiting France.
Et le grand jour est enfin arrivé ! Joe a décidé de partir à Paris pour quelques mois.
And the big day has finally arrived! Joe decided to go to Paris for a few months.
Pendant le vol, il observe avec excitation les paysages.
During the flight, he observes the landscapes with excitement.
Et il se rappelle soudain avoir lu que l'aéroport de Paris Charles de Gaulle est envahi par des lapins.
And he suddenly remembers having read that Paris Charles de Gaulle airport is invaded by rabbits.
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