The Big Bang Theory Wiki
Register
Advertisement
Fran

France

French is the official language of the Europe|European country of France, its former colonies and other countries.

French Usage in The Big Bang Theory[]

HowardSheldon and Rajesh Koothrappali all can speak French, or can use phrases of French origin. On the contrary, Stuart does not like others to do so to him, and probably cannot understand French.

  • In The "Pilot", Howard greets Penny with "Enchanté, mademoiselle" (Nice to meet you, miss), and wishes her "Bonne douche" (good shower).
(Leonard enters the kitchen to find Toby)
Toby: Morning.
Leonard: Who are you?
Toby: I am Sheldon's cousin Leo.
Leonard: Oh, god! Sheldon does not have a cousin Leo.
Toby: Au contraire (on the contrary). I'm 26 years old, ...
(Note: This is a mix of French and English, with which Howard probably intends to mean "what's up?" since "qu’est-ce que" translates to "what is").
Stuart: I'm sorry, but you are obviously stuck in a pre-zero hour DC universe.
Sheldon: Of cause I am. Removing Joe Chill as the killer of Batman's parents effectively deprived him of his raison d'être (reason of existance).
Stuart: OK, you can throw all the French words you want, it doesn't make you right.
Sheldon: Au contraire (on the contrary).
Howard: Next, this is a sexy French maid costume I brought for Bernadette. I thought it might spice things up and get her to dust my room at the same time. I was wrong, and really wrong.
Sheldon: And you want me to return it for you.
Howard: Non, non, non, ma petite chérie (literally: No, no, no, my little dear; Howard is using the feminine form ma petite chérie on purpose here).
Raj: Would you like me to help? I do have a certain je ne sais quoi when it comes to soirées.
Stuart: Thanks, but I can't afford je ne sais quoi. How much for just quoi?
Je ne sais quoi (literally: I don't know what) means "an intangible quality that makes something distinctive or attractive", which Stuart seems cannot understand at all.
Here je ne sais quoi must no be literally understood, it means he has something more than the others, he can bring a little something that makes the difference.
The word soirée means "a formal evening party".
Advertisement