# a question for french speakers **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 16, 2007, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-french-speakers/411941 "2007-07-16T05:00:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ms.Pumpkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a87d85/32.png) [@Ms.Pumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms.Pumpkin)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-french-speakers/411941/1 "2007-07-16T05:00:45Z")
I come from a Franco-American family, and there was a lot of French spoken in my family when I was young. I spoke it too(have it on tape, even) until my parents decided it was wiser not to encourage me to learn French, because little pitchers have big ears, and it’s handy to be able to speak freely in a language your kid doesn’t understand. Anyway, my grandfather died when I was 3, but I have a few memories of him, and one is that he always called me “bibbit”, which was explained to me as meaning “little bug”. I’ve looked in some french-english dictionaries, but I guess it’s either some kind of slang, I have the spelling all wrong, or I’ve been taken. So, is there really such a word, and is that what it actually means? ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-french-speakers/411941/2 "2007-07-16T11:42:23Z")
It’s almost impossible since French doesn’t have an equivalent for the English short-i, which I assume is what you’re describing in “bibbit”. The closest sound would be almost equal to the English “ee”. Did it sound more like “beebeet”? In any case, if it’s anything close to “bibit”, it’s probably from the Latin for “drinks”. ---
**Author:** ![jovan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/0ea827/32.png) [@jovan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jovan)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-french-speakers/411941/3 "2007-07-16T11:48:19Z")
[QUOTE=Ms. Pumpkin] So, is there really such a word, and is that what it actually means? [/QUOTE] Yes, there is such a word, it’s usually spelled _bibite_, but it’s not standard French. It’s common in Canadian dialects, though. ---
**Author:** ![jovan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/0ea827/32.png) [@jovan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jovan)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-french-speakers/411941/4 "2007-07-16T12:01:51Z")
Sorry for the double post, my edit window expired. _Bibite_ is also spelled sometimes _bebite_. I couldn’t find any etymological info on the word. I think it might possibly be related to the word _bête_ (beast). Repeating the first syllable of a word is used to give a lighter, not very serious, tone in slang. _Be-bête_, _fo-folle_, _jojo_ (from _joyeux_) are examples of this. ---
**Author:** ![xnylder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bbce88/32.png) [@xnylder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xnylder)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-french-speakers/411941/5 "2007-07-16T13:52:49Z")
Bibitte: An [insect](http://educatic.qc.ca/quebec-france/lexique/lexiqueq-bibitte.htm). 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![butler1850](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@butler1850](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butler1850)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-french-speakers/411941/6 "2007-07-16T14:43:48Z")
The Bibbit in my wife’s French-Canadian, french speaking family is an Elizabeth. Not sure if it applies to you though. She’s not very buggy, but that could easily be the explanation in your case. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-french-speakers/411941/7 "2007-07-16T14:56:10Z")
Sounds like a play on _bébé_ to me. Any chance it could have been a nonce word? I have some little nonsense words I say to my kids. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-french-speakers/411941/8 "2007-07-16T15:48:39Z")
In the US, there’s an expression, used for small folks, “cute as a bug.” If that’s used in Quebec, that would tie the whole thing together. This last week, we’ve all heard how Lady Bird Johnson got her name when a nursemaid said she was “pretty as a ladybird (beetle).” ---
**Author:** ![Ms.Pumpkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a87d85/32.png) [@Ms.Pumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms.Pumpkin)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-french-speakers/411941/9 "2007-07-16T20:43:58Z")
[QUOTE=jovan] Yes, there is such a word, it’s usually spelled _bibite_, but it’s not standard French. It’s common in Canadian dialects, though. [/QUOTE] Thanks! I had assumed it must be some odd franco thing. I have a bunch of other “french” words in my vocabulary that may or may not be standard french, as well. “Pitons” for buttons, “pishoos” for slippers, “fesses” for… well, your butt. I have no idea WHY the term bibite was applied to me, unless it’s the “cute as a bug” thing **AskNott** mentioned, or maybe it’s similarity to the word bebe, which **bordelond** pointed out. My actual name is Donna Jean, so nothing there. Beaucoup thanks, everyone! ---
**Author:** ![Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hypnagogic_jerk/32/4252_2.png) [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypnagogic_Jerk)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-french-speakers/411941/10 "2007-07-16T21:54:17Z")
[QUOTE=Ms. Pumpkin] “Pitons” for buttons [/quote] Canadian French, very common. > [@](#): > > “pishoos” for slippers Don’t know about that one. Slippers would be “pantoufles” for indoor slippers, and “sandales” for outdoor or beach slippers. In some Canadian dialects you could also use “gougounes” for beach slippers. “Pichou” is a word (a Canadian word, I believe, but very uncommon today) that means “lynx” but is also used in the sense of “ugly”. > [@](#): > > “fesses” for… well, your butt. That one is used everywhere people speak French. “Fesse” means “buttock”. > [@](#): > > I have no idea WHY the term bibite was applied to me, unless it’s the “cute as a bug” thing **AskNott** mentioned, or maybe it’s similarity to the word bebe, which **bordelond** pointed out. My actual name is Donna Jean, so nothing there. I don’t know, but “bibite” does seem like the kind of endearing term I would see a grandfather use for a very young girl. I think it’s mostly due to the “small” connotation. **jovan** suggested that maybe “bibite” comes from “bête” and he may very well be right; compare with “bébête”, which means “a little dumb”, a diminutive of “bête” in the sense of “not very bright”. > [@Liberal](#): > > French doesn’t have an equivalent for the English short-i, which I assume is what you’re describing in “bibbit”. “Bibite” is definitely pronounced with short vowels, similar to the English short i, but maybe moving towards a schwa in some dialects (see jovan’s alternative spelling – and pronounciation – of “bebite”). I don’t know why you say this sound doesn’t exist in French, it seems quite common to me. ---
**Author:** ![I\_m\_Ron\_Burgundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9fc29f/32.png) [@I\_m\_Ron\_Burgundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_m_Ron_Burgundy)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2007, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-french-speakers/411941/11 "2007-07-17T04:26:17Z")
The existence English short i is primarily part of the French-Canadian dialect. It’s unheard of in the majority of France. ---
**Author:** ![I\_m\_Ron\_Burgundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9fc29f/32.png) [@I\_m\_Ron\_Burgundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_m_Ron_Burgundy)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2007, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-french-speakers/411941/12 "2007-07-17T04:27:20Z")
_The existence \* of the_ English short i sorry ---
**Author:** ![Alnico6l6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@Alnico6l6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alnico6l6)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-french-speakers/411941/13 "2010-05-24T03:54:49Z")
Many of these words – bibbit (bug) pichou (slipper) etc. are commonly used by people of French heritage in Lewiston Maine. I’m not French, but I pay attention… ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-french-speakers/411941/14 "2010-05-24T05:42:58Z")
Could it be “bêbête” (petite bête/little animal)? That could apply to a bug (or equally a mouse, etc…). That’s not used in ordinary speech, but can be when speaking to a little kid “Regarde la bêbête!” “Oh, elle t’a mordu, la vilaine bêbête?” (look at the little animal/ The bad little animal just bit you?). Seems fitting to me. ETA : “bêbête” could be used too to mean “a bit simple-minded” ---
**Author:** ![Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hypnagogic_jerk/32/4252_2.png) [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypnagogic_Jerk)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-french-speakers/411941/15 "2010-05-24T15:40:54Z")
> [@clairobscur](#): > > Could it be “bêbête” (petite bête/little animal)? That could apply to a bug (or equally a mouse, etc…). Yes, check **jovan** ’s [post=8783608]post[/post] of nearly three years ago. That’s a likely etymology for _bibite_ which is how it’s pronounced in Canadian French dialects. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-french-speakers/411941/16 "2010-05-24T16:20:40Z")
> [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](#): > > Yes, check **jovan** ’s [post=8783608]post[/post] of nearly three years ago. Hmmm…Zombie bebete… ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-french-speakers/411941/17 "2010-05-24T20:23:52Z")
I just want to point out that French tends to have closer vowels. The French /e/ can sound to some people like the English /ɪ/, especially in certain dialects of either. ---
**Author:** ![rbossut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9dc877/32.png) [@rbossut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rbossut)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-french-speakers/411941/18 "2010-05-24T22:15:20Z")
If you pronounce it “beah-beah’t” it actually means little bug, however, if you prononce it “bee-bee’t” it literally means “d\*ck” in French slang ! ---
**Author:** ![Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hypnagogic_jerk/32/4252_2.png) [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypnagogic_Jerk)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-french-speakers/411941/19 "2010-05-24T23:05:35Z")
> [@rbossut](#): > > If you pronounce it “beah-beah’t” it actually means little bug, however, if you prononce it “bee-bee’t” it literally means “d\*ck” in French slang ! Where are you from? Because here (Quebec) /bɪbɪt/ does mean small bug, and I can’t think of any slang word for penis which sounds close to that. ---
**Author:** ![BleizDu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9dc877/32.png) [@BleizDu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BleizDu)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-french-speakers/411941/20 "2010-05-25T07:02:46Z")
Une bite is slang for penis in french, and I admit that since I don’t know much of french-canadian, I first though bibite was a wordplay on that. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-french-speakers/411941.md?page=2)