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

  • être en train de

    ByFast French

    In French, there is no direct equivalent to the English present continuous (“I am eating”) or past continuous (“I was eating”). Instead, French speakers use the construction “être en train de” + infinitive to emphasize that an action is (or was) in progress. This guide will cover how to use it in both the present…

  • revenir

    ByFast French

    The French verb “revenir” has several meanings and uses. It basically means “to come back,” since it is based on the verb “venir,” meaning “to come.” Here are some of the primary meanings:

  • Vogue la galère

    ByFast French

    “Vogue la galère” means “what will be, will be,” “come what may,” or “whatever happens, happens.” Literally the expression means something like “let the galley sail.” But the word “voguer” (to sail) originally meant to be pushed over the water by strength of oars. Galleys were ships powered by oarsmen and were used from antiquity…

  • Irregular verbs overview

    ByFast French

    Regular vs. Irregular Verbs: A Brief Overview In French, as in many other languages, verbs are categorised as either regular or irregular based on their conjugation patterns. Conjugation refers to how a verb changes in form to match different subjects, tenses, and moods. Regular verbs follow predictable patterns, making them relatively easy to conjugate once…

  • mettre les pouces

    ByFast French

    “Mettre les pouces” is a French idiom that literally means “to put the thumbs.” What it really means is to stop resisting, to give in, to admit defeat or to abandon something. It dates from the end of the 18th century. In that same era, a similar expression “coucher les pouces” (to put the thumbs to…

  • verb: fondre

    ByFast French

    The French verb “fondre” means “to melt,” along with a host of other meanings. It’s a useful verb to know if you’re heading into summer temperatures. “Fondre” can mean “to melt,” “to melt down,” “to thaw,” “to thaw out,” “to cast,” “to dissolve,” “to melt away,” “to waste away,” “to soften,” or when used reflexively,…