In French, as for any languages, there are a multitude of slang words used in common conversations. Some of these slang words sound very similar to other slang words. For today’s example, we will choose the two following ones:

Nounoune (noo-noo-ne), which would describe something as silly, like, humm, let’s say “a silly question” would translate to “une question nounoune”
&
Moumoune (moo-moo-ne), which would perfectly describe an effeminate male with a penchant for the dramatics, like let’s say “Hey faggot!” translating to “Hey moumoune!”

So today, at the information desk, this lady walks to me and notices that I’m wearing a lanyard showing I speak French and English and after confirming that she can asks me questions in French she goes:

J’ai une question moumoune a vous demander
(I have a faggot question to ask you)

I looked at her, raised one eyebrow just like Phil Kehogan would on The Amazing Race and said:
J’aimerais mieux que vous m’achetiez un verre avant s’il-vous-plait.
(I’d rather you buy me a drink first if you don’t mind.)

At that moment she realized her slip of tongue and became totally embarrassed and red in the face and I started to laugh and then said:

Ok, alors, on recommence au début?
(Ok, let’s start at the beginning again)

And we did, and I laughed some more when I gave her the forms she needed and her numbered ticket to wait her turn at the counter… she still looked embarrassed when she was on the phone, possibly re-telling the story to a friend.

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