Agneau?

A few weeks ago my parents and I ventured off to the local grocery store to buy something for dinner. Unsure of what we were exactly going to make we headed to the meat section for some inspiration. There were the meats I recognized beef (beouf), pork (porc), and chicken (poulet).

And then there was Agneau.

Here’s what went down:

Mom: Kate, What’s Agneau?

Me: hmmm. Well veal is Veau. Maybe it’s like veal?

Mom: Are you sure?

Me: Nooooo….

(Meat man walking by)

Me: Pardon. Que-est que ce Agneau? (Excuse me. What is Agneau?)

Meat Man: Ugh… Agneau…. C’est Agneau (shrugging shoulders)

(gee thanks.)

Me: Beouf?

Meat Man: No.

Me: Porc?

Meat Man: No.

Unsure what each person was try to say, we are left with blank confused faces and insecure in knowing what animal Agneau came from. Since French wasn’t working, we resolved to a higher level of communication.

Me and Mom: Mooo?

Meat man: No.

Me and Mom: nogh nogh nogh (pig snorting)

Meat Man: No. (waving finger back and forth at us with other hand up to his face in a thinking manner)

Me: (rocking back and forth like I am swinging a baby) Moo moo.

Meat Man: No. Desole. Bonne Chance. (No sorry Good luck)

Mom and I surrender. We leave with beef. That was safe.

Today, sitting in French class, the girl next is talking about a traditional meal in her culture and says, “AGNEAU!” Then she checks with the teacher, “how do you say lamb? Agneau?” I start laughing while my teacher then writes the word to verify that, Agneau is Lamb!

Or, if you are talking to the butcher in the store you could always ask, “Pardon, Agneau C’est Baaaa Baa?”