The term "French letter" for condoms dates back to the early 19th century when condoms were first introduced in England. At that time, anything associated with France was considered sophisticated and fashionable. The French were also known for their sexual openness and exploration, so the term "French letter" likely added a sense of exoticism and allure to the product. Over time, the term has persisted in English language usage.
The origin of the term is not clear, so I can give only the most common explanations. The term 'french letter' by the way is now considered old-fashioned by the Brits themselves.
First of all there is the British tradition of ascribing things sexual (certainly the more 'disgusting' ones) to the French: syphilis was 'the French disease' and the kiss with exchange of bodily fluids 'French kissing'. So many Brits argue that a thing looking like a small square envelope containing a condom could easily have become a 'French letter' in slang usage.
Other explanations mention a Colonel Condum in the 17th century British army who first had preservatives distributed during service of his regiment in France to protect his men against French harlots. Some have argued that the word 'letter' has something to do with an antiquated meaning of the verb 'to let', namely 'to hinder, to prevent (veneral disease)'. The prefix French meaning of course again 'disgusting French habit'. Others again point at the habit of young Englishmen taking the Grand Tour of Europe in the 18th and 19th century, enclosing interesting little tidbits in ther letters home, which if sent from France would be condoms. Presumably these would not be the letters sent to their dear old mothers.
So take your pick. The French by the way used to call a condom an "English overcoat".
The French call that 'un dressing' or 'un dressing-room' after the English noun.
In English, you call a 'coupon' a 'voucher'.
Names do not translate (French saying:" les noms n'ont pas d'orthographe" or in English "names have no spelling").If your name is Jake people will (or should) call you Jake all over the world (it is the name that your parents gave you and put on your birth certificate...)
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You say blancmange. It's a kind of pudding. In the Monty Python sketch, they call it a blancmange. That's French for "white eat". You don't need to translate it, though. You just say blancmange, the same way you say quiche or croissant, just by using the French word in your English sentence.
The French call the English "les Rosbifs" The English call the French "Froggies" It is interesting that both are food related.
the French also call it internet.
If you are referring to the area of the English countryside, the French call it "le Lake District".
The English port of Dover is called Douvres in French
Pelican is spelled the same in English and french
The English call it the Strait of Dover because it is named after the town of Dover on the English side. The French call it Pas-de-Calais because it is named after the Calais region on the French side.
The Channel or more correctly The English Channel. To the French it is 'La Manche'.
The English Channel is called "la Manche" in French. (Perhaps this is because the shape resembles a broomstick or shirt sleeve, two other meanings of the word.)
The English call it The English Channel. The French call it La Manche
"To call trendy" is an English equivalent of the French phrase appeler tendance. The pronunciation will be "a-pley taw-dawss" in French.
The French call the apple of the earth "pomme de terre," which translates to "potato" in English.
The French term "DEJA vu" in English is "already seen".