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k0e3@lemmy.ca

[fr > en] What does « voué à l’échec » mean? (lemmy.ca)

submitted 4 days ago by k0e3@lemmy.ca to c/translators@lemmy.ca

4 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Here is the context it was used in:

D’après elle, « l’essai de décriminalisation » du gouvernement était voué à l’échec dès le départ.

Thank you in advance.

On a somewhat related note, does anyone know of websites or channels that are less depressing than CBC where I can read, listen to, or watch French content? I recently started using Loops, and the algorithm started suggesting some French accounts. If anyone has any recommendations, I'd really appreciate it.

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[–] Cardinalis@sh.itjust.works 5 points 4 days ago (1 children)

It means “doomed to fail”.

Maybe try the Mauril app…

[–] k0e3@lemmy.ca 2 points 3 days ago (1 children)

So voué à = destined to, échec = failure, is that correct?

And thank you for the app recommendation. I'll check that out!

[–] Cardinalis@sh.itjust.works 2 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

Short answer: yes.

Long, absolutely superfluous, answer:

Échec = Failure

Voué is the past participle of vouer which can mean to bless/offer to god or, in our case, to vow or solemnly promise.

So I guess a poetic translation would be like “Betrothed to failure.”

PS: I originally forgot to mention, but vouer mostly archaic. You’ll likely only encounter it as part of that expression.

[–] k0e3@lemmy.ca 2 points 2 days ago

Thank you! So vouer is not something I need to worry about trying to incorporate into my everyday conversation (unless my life is full of failures).