[fr > en] What does « voué à l’échec » mean?
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.
6 replies
It means “doomed to fail”.
Maybe try the Mauril app…
So voué à = destined to, échec = failure, is that correct?
And thank you for the app recommendation. I'll check that out!
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.
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).
I was listening to a podcast and the expression « voué aux gemonies » came up! I had to look up what the expression meant, but I at least knew what « voué » meant thanks to you :)
I actually had to look it up myself. That is a very French (nationality) expression and I’m French Canadian…