Compounds
--------------------------------------------------------------
DEFINITION
A compound noun comprises several words joined together like in portemanteau (carry-coat = coat hanger) or presqu’île (nearly-island = peninsula), or hyphenated like in après-midi (afternoon) or standing independently like in machine à écrire (machine to write = typewriter). Compounds can be based on a noun or be converted words.
--------------------------------------------------------------
NOUN BASED COMPOSITION
These compounds can be divided into two categories:
1) endocentric or explicit compounds
2) exocentric or implicit compounds
Let’s compare the following examples:
The word pause-café takes the feminine gender of pause, as a pause-café is a break (pause f.) during which a coffee is taken. Pause is the “head” that gives the basic meaning and the gender to the compound. This category of compounds is called endocentric as opposed to exocentric which reveal their “head” only implicitly, like for instance the word terre-neuve (new land) takes the masculine gender of chien m. (dog) and not the feminine gender of terre f. (land), a terre-neuve being a retriever originating from Terre-Neuve Island or Newfoundland.
Examples of endocentric compounds (Gender is to be found inside the compound)
Feminine
boucle d’oreille (lock of ear = earing)
boule-de-neige (ball of snow = snowball)
eau-de-vie (water of life = brandy)
pause-café (break-coffee = coffee-break)
pomme de terre (apple of earth = potato)
queue-de-cheval (tail of horse = ponytail)
station-service (gas station)
plate-bande (flat-band = flowerbed)
machine à coudre (sewing machine)
Masculine
bain-marie (bath-Mary = double boiler)
bloc-notes (block of notes = notepad)
sac-à-dos (bag on back = backpack)
papier toilettes (paper toilets = toilet paper)
point-virgule (full stop-comma = semicolon)
radioréveil (radio-alarm)
roman-photo (novel-picture = photo romance)
bal musette (dance-accordion = popular dance)
pot-au-feu (pot on fire = stew)
Examples of exocentric compounds (Gender is to be found outside the compound)
In some cases, the “head” can be easily identify like in rouge-gorge (oiseau m. à gorge rouge) but most of the time it is just assumed or can only be referred to as “something” or “someone"...
Feminine
mi-temps (pause f.) half-time (periode)
Masculine
mi-temps (travail m.), part-time (job)
rouge-gorge (oiseau m.), red-throat (bird) robin
haut-de-forme (chapeau m.), hight-shape (hat)
cinq étoiles (hôtel m.), five-stars (hotel)
quatre roues (véhicule m.), four wheels (vehicle)
deux-pièces (appartement m.), two-rooms (flat)
mille-feuilles (gâteau m.), thousand-leaves (cake)
mille-pattes (ver m.), thousand feet (worm)
terre-plein (mur plein de terre), earth-full (wall)
--------------------------------------------------------------
CONVERSION
A converted word is a different part of speech (adjective, verb...) used as noun. Compounds based on converted words are masculine and exocentric.
Verb based
appuie-tête (lean-head = headrest)
cache-nez (hide-nose = wool scarf)
couvre-lit (cover-bed = bedspread)
ouvre-boîtes (open-boxes = can opener)
savoir-faire (know-do = knowhow)
copier coller (copy paste)
pousse-pousse (push-push = rickshaw)
cache-cache (hide-hide = hide and seek)
pique-nique (picnic)
rendez-vous (render-yourself = appointment)
Locution based
tête-à-tête (private conversation)
à-côtés (on the side = extra)
sur-mesure (on-measure = tailor-made)
dessous-de-table (under the table = bribery)
sans-faute (without-mistake = clear round)
chez-soi (at home = home)
qu’en dira-t-on ( what people say = gossip)
plus-que-parfait (more than perfect = pluperfect tense)
tout-à-l'égout (all to the sewer = main sewer)
--------------------------------------------------------------
Note 1
Compounds based on verb parer (to protect from) admit two masculine forms:
pare- : pare-brise (windshield), pare-soleil (sun visor), pare-chocs (bumper)
para- : parapluie(umbrella), parasol(sunshade), paratonnerre(lightning conductor), parachute
The latter should not be confused with para- which means "next to, close to" like in learned compounds parabole, paraphrase or paragraphe.
Note 2
Beware of homonyms from the two categories of compounds:
Noun based compounds
porte-fenêtre f. (porte f.) French door
grille jeu f. (grille f.) Loto grid
chasse gardée f. (chasse f.) private hunting
compte rendu m. (compte m.) record, account
couche-culotte f. (couche f.) diaper
Verb based compounds
porte-monnaie m. (porter vb.) purse
grille-pain m. (griller vb.) toaster
chasse-neige m. (chasser vb.) snowplow
compte-gouttes m. (compter vb.) dropper
couche-tard m/f. (coucher vb.) night owl
Copyright © Ginette Guillard-Chamart 2009. All rights reserved.