People who have never played field hockey probably have no idea how many different ways it is possible to say the game. Each region of France apparently has its own slang words and phrases used when talking about the sport. This blog post will tell you exactly how to say the game in French.
Table of Contents
The Basics
Field hockey is a sporting activity which is very popular in Europe. It is similar to ice hockey but played on a ground surface instead of on ice. The objective is to score goals by maneuvering a white puck (the ball) around a green rectangular enclosure (the pitch or court area). If you want to say that you are playing field hockey, simply say “jeu de foot” or, in English, “field hockey”.
Another important fact about field hockey in France is that, in general, men and women play together. This is known as “la mixed-gender game” and is generally permitted under French law. Some French regions have banned mixed-gender games in an effort to preserve “la femme au naturel” (the woman in her natural state) but, even in those regions, women can play on special requests.
How Do I Play?
Field hockey is a fast-paced game which requires a lot of active movement. It is similar to soccer but, in addition to kicking the ball, you can use your hands to run around and help your team score. In order to properly execute a hand pass, you will need to have strong wrists and be able to bend your arms back quite far. This can help you coordinate your passes with your teammates more effectively.
If you want to learn how to say “handball” in French, it simply follows the same pattern as “field hockey”. The only difference is that you will replace the words “foot” with “hand” when speaking of the sport. For example: “Le soccer a été remplacé par le tennis au XXe siècle” means “Football was replaced by tennis in the 20th century”. You can say “tennis” or “handball” instead of “soccer” when speaking with a French speaker.
What Does It Mean When Someone Scores A “Fancy Dress” Or “Grand Rap”?
If you score a “fancy dress” in field hockey, it means that you wear an extravagant outfit while playing. These outfits are brightly colored and embellished with fake fur, feathers, or lace. Some people even wear masks to protect their identity while playing field hockey.
In France, field hockey fanatics sometimes nickname their team after the fancy-dressers they employ during matches. So, if you play for the “La Patrie” (the French national team) and wear a purple and yellow outfit, you will probably be called “Le Roi Jaloux” (“The Kingly Jag”) or “Vikings” by your teammates.
A “grand rap” in field hockey is a powerful hit which sends the opposing team’s player flying through the air. It is often accompanied by a loud “boom” and results in an immediate penalty shot for the offending team. To give you an idea of how powerful these hits can be, “grand rap” is sometimes abbreviated to “GR” in French letters.
A “grand rap” is scored when a player uses their hands to hit the ball a great distance. This is most often done in an effort to put the opposing team on penalties but can also be an effective way to shoot the ball long distances and, thus, score a goal. In order to properly execute a “grand rap”, you will need strong wrists, flexible hips, and the ability to quickly move your body weight from foot to foot. If you have those three things, you will be able to hit the ball very powerfully. And, if you avoid getting hit by the ball, it will be much easier to protect the goal that you have just scored.
Other Common Phrases
There are other common phrases used when referring to field hockey in France. If you want to learn how to say “on pitch” or “ice” in French, you will need to look them up in a French-English dictionary since, in general, the French do not use those words when speaking about the game.
“Pitch” in field hockey simply refers to the playing surface. It is similar to “court” in tennis but, in general, softer and a little bit lower. If you mention that the pitch is cold, they will assume that you are talking about the weather rather than the surface. To say that it is “glace” in French, you will need to add the word “sur” before the word “glace” (the French word for ice). For example: “Il fait glace sur le pitch” means “It’s freezing on the pitch”. “La glace au soleil” means “The ice is reflecting the sun’s rays”. If you want to discuss whether the surface is natural or artificial, you will need to specify that it is “de couverture” (covered in grass). Finally, if you want to discuss the thickness of the ice, you will need to use “Le hockey est pratiquement sur la glace” (“Field hockey almost on the ice”) to explain that the ice is very thin and, thus, easy for someone to cheat by dragging their feet.
The slang words and phrases used in France for field hockey are very similar to those used in other countries. If you learn how to speak French, you will be able to master any form of French used in relation to sports. And, if you have never played the game, it may be hard to know what slang words and phrases to use. This blog post should help you out and teach you exactly how to say the game in French.