Avoir un cheveu sur la langue

Avoir un cheveu sur la langue
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Informal French Expression

Meaning to lisp, to have a lisp
Literally to have a hair on the tongue
Register informal
Pronunciation French sound files [ah vwar oo(n) sheuh veuh sur lah la(n)g]
IPA   [a vwa ʁœ̃ ʃə və suʁ la lãg]

Usage notes: The French expression avoir un cheveu sur la langue means to lisp, to have a lisp, to speak with a lisp, the idea being that the hair is interfering with the tongue and causing the lisp.

 Though informal, this expression is not offensive.

Par exemple…

C’est un peu difficile de comprendre Huguette au téléphone, parce qu’elle a un cheveu sur la langue.   It’s kind of hard to understand Huguette on the phone, because she lisps.
Je ne parle pas bien l’espagnol parce que je le trouve impossible de parler comme si j’ai un cheveu sur la langue.   I can’t speak Spanish well because I find it impossible to speak with a lisp.

Variations

  • avoir un fil sur la langue
  • avoir un cheveu

Synonyms

 Related lessons

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Elle a un cheveu sur la langue

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