le roi n’est pas son cousin

ByFast French

The French expression “le roi n’est pas son cousin” translates literally as “the king is not his cousin.” What it really means is “he is happier than a king,” or “he is almost as happy as a king,” depending on your interpretation.

This saying can be understood in one of two ways. Firstly, it can mean that one is so happy that even a king is unworthy of being a close relative. Or secondly, it can mean that being a mere cousin of the king is not enough, but rather one feels like a brother or sister of the king, because one is so close to the level of happiness that only a king can feel.

This term is used to describe, for example, a father at the birth of his first child, or the winner of a competition, since both lead to extreme happiness and pride.

This idiom was originally “the king is not his friend” at the end of the 16th century. By the end of the 17th century, the saying had morphed into “the king is not his cousin.”

The nearest English equivalent expressions include “he’s as happy as Larry,” and “to be proud as a peacock.”

Don’t miss new articles!

Get 1 email a week with new articles about French

We don’t spam! Read more in our privacy policy

Similar Posts

  • laid comme un pou

    ByFast French

    The French saying “laid comme un pou” translates literally as “(as) ugly as a louse.” It means “very ugly.” This idiom dates back to the end of the 18th century. Although there are plenty of other insects that are uglier than a louse, which is responsible for head lice infestations, the effects of this insect…

  • il se peut que

    ByFast French

    The French phrase “il se peut que” is commonly used in everyday conversation to express possibility or uncertainty. In English, it translates to “it may be that” or “it is possible that.” This phrase is often followed by a verb in the subjunctive mood, which is used to convey doubt, possibility, or uncertainty. Breaking Down…

  • pour des prunes

    ByFast French

    “Pour des prunes” is a French expression that literally means “for plums.” Its closest English equivalent is “for nothing.” The saying dates from the start of the 16th century. However, the association of plums with a complete lack of value dates back to the end of the Second Crusade, which finished around 1150 AD and was…

  • le pouvoir

    ByFast French

    The French masculine noun “le pouvoir” translates to “power” or “authority” in English. It comes from the French verb “pouvoir,” meaning “to be able,” or “can.” “Le pouvoir” has its roots in the Latin word “potere,” which means “to be able” or “to have the right.” This Latin term evolved into the Old French “povoir” before…

  • maint

    ByFast French

    The French adjective “maint” means “many,” “many a,” “numerous” or “manifold.” It is a little archaic and is most commonly used in a literary way, although some still use it in everyday speech. People tend to prefer more modern words such as “beaucoup,” “nombreux,” “plusieurs,” or more familiarly, “plein de.” As an adjective, “maint” must…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *