“une centaine”, “(ils) ont beau être meilleur”, & “faire de la pub” – do you know what those mean? hear them in this clip and improve your French listening skills from any level! Can you hear them in this fast clip from the Manger podcast?
This clip is from Manger Episode 1. Listen and fill in what you hear below. Read more and find a translation below. Listen to the full episode here.
The above audio sample and transcription is from Manger ep. 1. We do not own the content. Listen to the entire episode here.
May be better
There are a lot of ways to pick up the language. Hopefully you’re combining this with all the tools available. I think this one may be better for listening work, but then again – I’m quite biased. How are you combining it with other tools?
What’s opening up for you in this clip?
The snippet in English
Find a translation of this snippet here, how much of this did you hear?
En 1903, il y a une centaine de fabriques de céréales à Battle Creek et les Kellogg’s ont beau être meilleur en marketing et faire de la pub pour leur Corn Flakes, avec tous les gens qui se mettent à vendre des céréales en tenant le même discours santé, Will veut tout de même se démarquer de la concurrence en ajoutant du sucre au Corn Flakes.
In 1903, there were about 100 cereal factories in Battle Creek and Kellogg’s may be better at marketing and advertising their Corn Flakes, but with everyone starting to sell cereal with the same healthy pitch, Will still wanted to set himself apart from the competition by adding sugar to Corn Flakes.
The above translation from Deepl. Source
What does “une centaine” mean?
“Une centaine” is a French expression that translates to “around a hundred” or “approximately a hundred”. It is commonly used to refer to a quantity that is not exactly known or specified but is estimated to be close to one hundred. For example, if someone asks how many people attended a party, and the response is “une centaine”, it means that around one hundred people were present, but the exact number is not known.
The expression is formed from the word “cent” which means “one hundred”, and the suffix “-aine” which is used to indicate an approximate quantity or number. “Une dizaine” is another similar expression that means “around ten” or “approximately ten”.
In addition to referring to a number of people or things, “une centaine” can also be used to describe a period of time that is around one hundred years, such as “une centaine d’années” (around a hundred years). It is a versatile expression that is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts in French.
What does “(ils) ont beau être meilleur” mean?
“ont beau être meilleur” is a French phrase that translates to “are even better” or “may be better.” The phrase “ont beau” is an idiomatic expression in French that expresses a contrast between what is expected or desired and what is actually the case. In this context, it means that despite certain limitations or obstacles, the subject being referred to is still better or more skilled than others. So, “ont beau être meilleur” means that despite some potential drawbacks or challenges, the subject is even better than others.
For example, “Ils ont beau être meilleurs que leurs concurrents, ils ont du mal à se démarquer sur le marché” would translate to “They may be better than their competitors, but they struggle to stand out in the market.” In this example, the phrase “ont beau être meilleurs” indicates that, despite their superiority, they are still facing difficulties in distinguishing themselves from their competitors.
What does “faire de la pub” mean?
The phrase “faire de la pub” is a common French expression that translates to “to advertise” in English. It is composed of the verb “faire,” which means “to do” or “to make,” and the abbreviation “pub” which stands for “publicité,” the French word for “advertisement.” This expression is often used in business contexts, such as marketing and sales, to refer to the act of promoting a product, service, or brand to potential customers. Advertisements can take many forms, such as print, radio, television, or online ads, and are a crucial part of the modern business landscape.
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“une centaine”, “(ils) ont beau être meilleur”, & “faire de la pub” – do you know what those mean? hear them in this clip and improve your French listening skills from any level! Can you hear them in this fast clip from the Manger podcast?
