Bathroom diner
In Perpignan, we were staying at a hotel with very small bath towels and my wife told me to ask for another. However, my attempted phrase J'ai besoin d'une autre assiette pour la salle de bains met with the unexpected response Et vous voudriez un couteau et une fourchette aussi?, and would you like a knife and a fork as well?I was left wondering why I'd want 'a knife' un couteau and 'fork' une fourchette in the bathroom! But it makes sense as I did ask for une assiette, a plate, in the first place. I should have asked for une serviette.
Sent by: Jeffrey
Comments
A similar thing happened to my mother in Paris. She asked for une assiette in our hotel and was surprised to be presented with a plate, not a towel. She was about to protest until she realised a plate was actually quite useful for the picnic-in-our room we were having.
Although more commonly used in Belgium than in France, un essuie de bain or essuie éponge would have done the trick.
Of course after your initial comment you might have gotten a napkin, which is also a une serviette. If you want a towel, better specify une serviette de bain.
I have found that the French pretend not to understand Belgian french. I've been corrected on several occasions.
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