repas populaire

English translation: community meal/meal open to the public

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
French term or phrase:repas populaire
English translation:community meal/meal open to the public
Entered by: MatthewLaSon

19:34 Apr 24, 2011
French to English translations [PRO]
Tourism & Travel / activities
French term or phrase: repas populaire
un repas populaire - I've been away from England too long and I can't think what this could be. Mass meal etc is surely wrong and village dinner goes more with fête de village ... I also thought maybe free dinner (along the lines of the soupe populaire!) but they're not always free.

Any help would be welcome.
CKSTraductions
France
Local time: 23:37
repas populaire = repas associatif = community-style dinner/dinner open to the public
Explanation:
Hello,

You will see many ghits for "repas associatifs", which are just "community-style dinners".


I don't like "meal" for "repas" here in English. I prefer "dinner", unless it's specified as a breakfast or lunch-type thing.

In one instance I saw online, "repas populaire" at a primary school would be be translated as "school community luncheon" or something. So this more "all-purpose" term in French will need adapting in English, depending on the context.

I think the history of this is in the idea of a "soupe populaire", which are charity dinners for the poor, or very cheap meals for working-class (Montréal 1930's perhaps?)

Best of luck!
Selected response from:

MatthewLaSon
Local time: 18:37
Grading comment
Thank you for your answer Matthew. I really hesitated for communal village meal but in the end I chose organised meal open to all - I had to put meal as whether it was lunch or dinner was not specified. It's a bit long but I think it does rule out most ambiguity. Thank you all for your answers as it is thanks to your work that I found the answer that I was most comfortable with - and to think I nearly put this question as non-pro!
3 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +3shared meal
AllegroTrans
3 +3communal meal
Tony M
4food
Graham macLachlan
3 +1Traditional folk food/meal
Verginia Ophof
3 +1traditional meal / lunch
silvester55
4running buffet
Dr Lofthouse
3communal banquet
Melissa McMahon
3paraphrase?
Gail Bond
4 -2Popular meal
Michel F. Morin
3 -1food stalls
Marian Vieyra
2repas populaire = repas associatif = community-style dinner/dinner open to the public
MatthewLaSon
3 -2favorite meal
cdoucette (X)
2 -3free food! [donations welcome]
DouglasCarnall
Summary of reference entries provided
cmwilliams (X)

Discussion entries: 9





  

Answers


13 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): -2
Popular meal


Explanation:
Why not simplement "popular" meal ??? IMHO cela convient quel que soit le sens donné au mot "populaire"...

Michel F. Morin
France
Local time: 23:37
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in FrenchFrench
PRO pts in category: 12

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  AllegroTrans: doesn't convey the corect meaning of "populaire"; a faux-ami here
8 mins

disagree  Tony M: Have to agree with A/T; 'popular art / music', OK; but this naturally invites the question "what would be an unpopular meal?"
1 hr

neutral  Graham macLachlan: it may well be popular with the participants! no, wrong register Michel (but not a faux-ami) however as a bona fide Frenchman you might be able to shed some light on what "populaire" actually means here ;-)
16 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

24 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
shared meal


Explanation:
isn't it about alot of people eating together?

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 28 mins (2011-04-24 20:02:43 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

#
Visit to St Benoit August 2001
The evening ended in another shared meal, including the Russians, who provided ... stall at the Cookham Dean Village Fete or contact Liz Kwantes on 01628-525130. ...
www.cookham.com/community/news/twinning/photos.htm
#
Great Bedwyn, Great Bedwyn: St Mary Church - Wiltshire ...
Great Bedwyn Church Fete. Held in Manor Farmhouse garden; a traditional church fete with stalls, teas and lots ... Communion in the setting of a shared meal Places are limited. ...
achurchnearyou.com/print_events.php?V=great-bedwyn-st-mary
#


AllegroTrans
United Kingdom
Local time: 22:37
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 27
Notes to answerer
Asker: yes it is definitely talking about a lot of people eating together - I don't know what is being offered for this event but often it is a barbecue or paella


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Sheila Wilson: absolutely
36 mins
  -> yes, a "people's meal"

neutral  Tony M: I think 'communal' might just work, but I'm a bit worried about 'shared' in this particular context; fits perfectly in your 2 refs., but the contexts are subtly different. 'shared' is of course generally a good rendering for 'populaire' in this sense.
1 hr
  -> thanks

neutral  silvester55: why shared ? can't see the link ........
9 hrs

agree  Sarah Bessioud: I think this is the correct idea, but I would use the word communal as opposed to shared
11 hrs

agree  codestrata
23 days
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

44 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
food


Explanation:
in that list, I'd just put "food"

I think the "populaire" bit is a way of saying "nothing fancy" as in "simple fare" or "basic food"

cf. this entry for "populaire" from Hachette/Oxford:

(ouvrier) [quartier, banlieue] working-class; [littérature, art, roman] popular; [édition] cheap; [restaurant] basic; être d'origine populaire to be from a working-class background; il écrit pour un public populaire he writes for ordinary people; classe populaire working class;

Where to eat at Portobello Market on a Saturday
Earl of Lonsdale - Pub: comfortable lounge/dining areas, basic food ...
www.portobellomarket.org/eating.htm

Toulouse Restaurants, Cafes, Dining: Restaurants in Toulouse Area ...
where you enjoy more simple fare whilst soaking up the atmosphere. ...
www.toulouse.world-guides.com/toulouse_restaurants.html

Graham macLachlan
Local time: 23:37
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 178

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Tony M: I think 'popular' here is more about the fact that there are a lot of people all eating together (as A/T has already pointed out!), and I think this would rather underplay it from a marketing point of view. Sure, but 'with food' isn't enough here.
45 mins
  -> Hi Tony, no I disagree, we're talking simple, unadventurous food (saucisses frites)

neutral  AllegroTrans: agree with TM, you have diluted the term
51 mins
  -> preferable to misinterpreting the term, eh?

neutral  DouglasCarnall: I think this is playing just a little too safe... ;-)
15 hrs
  -> we certainly seem to be making a meal of it ;-)
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

45 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
Traditional folk food/meal


Explanation:
suggestion

Verginia Ophof
Belize
Local time: 16:37
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 6

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Tony M: We really have no clues as to what food is going to be served (it might be paella, for example!) so this really amounts to over-interpretation, at least until we know more about it.
45 mins
  -> Good point Tony

agree  Dieezah
5 hrs
  -> Thank you Dieezah
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
communal banquet


Explanation:
A suggestion.

I think "banquet" conveys the festive tone, and "communal" tones down the grander associations of "banquet". But it is a tricky one, a bit culturally specific.

Melissa McMahon
Australia
Local time: 09:37
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Tony M: I don't think any amount of 'communal' could sadly tone down 'banquet' enough for this context; a banquet remains a banquet, unless it is being used with irony ;-)
5 hrs
  -> Yes, you could be right. I suppose I was thinking that "banquet" in the sense of a "banquet menu" is not necessarily posh, just a fixed-price, fixed menu meal, which I think is the style here.
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

20 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
traditional meal / lunch


Explanation:
.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 10 hrs (2011-04-25 05:47:45 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

> populaire
Ecouter la définition

connu, apprécié, célèbre.
ouvrier, démocratique, laborieux, folklorique, traditionnel, vulgaire

silvester55
Local time: 00:37
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in FrenchFrench

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  AllegroTrans: not sure about it being "traditional"; "populaire" is about alot of people
3 mins
  -> see my other synonyms of "populaire".

agree  Verginia Ophof: Traditional Home Cooking ?
18 mins
  -> thanks Virginia .

neutral  Tony M: Like A/T, we really have no clues as to what food is going to be served (it might be paella, for example!) so this really amounts to over-interpretation, at least until we know more about it. / Yes, but we don't know where this is! / Brainstorming rules!
1 hr
  -> paella is the traditional food of some region , right ? ex: choucroute " alsacienne" or quiche " lorraine " .........but then also , this is not about one kind of meal , the whole menu is " régionale , populaire " , typical food= traditional
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

12 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): -1
food stalls


Explanation:
A translation of the idea... summer fairs, queuing up for a veggie burger and Pimm's...

Marian Vieyra
United Kingdom
Local time: 22:37
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 3

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Tony M: Again, could be right... but might be quite wrong too; so over-interpretation here, I'm afraid
5 mins
  -> we won't know what's right, wrong or over-interpreted till the asker gets more info. All the suggestions so far are by way of helping the asker find something that inspires her.

disagree  AllegroTrans: might easily not be the case....
1 day 2 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

13 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +3
communal meal


Explanation:
Since Asker has now told us "I don't know either when or where the repas populaire is going to take place", in the light of this absence of defining context, making it too risky to pin it down more specifically, I'd like to suggest this as a non-committal but not-very-pretty solution — based entirely, of course, on the suggestions already made by A/T and Melissa, to whom all credit is due! And on the peer comment by Jeux de Mots.

I'd really like to work 'village' in there somewhere, with all that folksy stuff, I think Asker might be able to glean more information to see if that is feasible — I'd have thought a quick phone call to the organizer might have enabled this to be cleared up right away?

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 13 heures (2011-04-25 09:08:02 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

As the context dribbles out, perhaps we could take the (slight) risk of over-translation and extend this to 'outdoor meals' — although that doesn't directly or literally render 'populaire', I think in context the implication of 'all eating together outdoors' would be perfectly understood.

I must admit, I'm rather intrigued (given the difference in meaning of 'exhibition' between EN and FR!) to know just what these delightful folk-like exhibitions are going to involve ;-)

BTW, as we now know that more than one event is involved, I'm wondering again about that singular 'repas populaire' — does it imply that in all the series of events, there is going to be just one meal? Or that there is going to be one meal on each event day? That would seem more logical and consistent with the source syntax — though in that case, an argument might be made for adding the indefinite article in the EN version.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 13 heures (2011-04-25 09:11:57 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Reminds me of the street parties we had for the Queen's Silver Jubilee — now there's a good English example of a 'repas populaire', and incidentally, an example of just how context-specific any translation is likely to need to be.

Tony M
France
Local time: 23:37
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 119

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  DouglasCarnall: Street parties held to celebrate Royal occasions are perhaps the closest analogy in English culture, but the food is just not so central to the concept. For me that evokes tea and buns being served, rather than a cooked meal.
2 hrs
  -> indeed — my sole point was to higlight the difficulty of finding any one fit-all term in EN, and to illustrate how important it is to suit the term to the detail of the context.

agree  B D Finch: Unless it is in a village, when you could call it a "village meal".
4 hrs
  -> Thanks, Barbara! Yes, it would be nice to work it in there somehow if possible.

agree  cmwilliams (X): This seems the safest option - could be a four course set meal or moules frites.
5 hrs
  -> Thanks, CMW! My point exactly!

agree  MatthewLaSon: Not sure, but this seems like the only real solution. Reminds me of a church basement dinner in North America LOL.
9 hrs
  -> Thanks, Matthew! I can imagine, I remember very simialr things in the UK!
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

15 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
running buffet


Explanation:
Works in this context,

Dr Lofthouse
France
Local time: 22:37
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in ItalianItalian

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Tony M: We really can't be sure of that; it may not be a buffet at all, such meals are often served at table by volunteers, for example. Once again, any attempt at being specific is risky in the absence of detailed context.
5 mins
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

12 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5 peer agreement (net): -3
free food! [donations welcome]


Explanation:
I think the reason that a satisfactory neat translation of "repas populaire" is proving elusive is that it is a very French cultural phenomenon that has no exact counterpart of which I am aware in any anglophone culture.

I have been to several, and see them announced quite frequently on local militant email lists campaigning on environmental issues or homelessness. I have heard that Front National repas populaires always ensure that pork included in the recipe to put off Muslims, but this may be a calumny. In any case, left or right, the central idea of a repas populaire is that everyone who turns up at the event gets fed. In Britain, unless you're part of the elite, you usually to have to take sandwiches along on your political days out.

My concrete experience has been as follows: the menu offered at a repas populaire is usually a single "plat" of soup or stew accompanied by rice or cous-cous, often vegan. Salad, bread, and a glass may also be offered, but not always. The most usual arrangement for payment is a monetary exchange at "prix libre": in other words, a donation of what you can afford. If you're in work, this would usually be a few, up to maybe five, euros.

The food is served by volunteers set up behind a couple of trellis tables. Repas populaires are undoubtedly more frequent during "la belle saison," when this can be outdoors, though I suppose there's no reason why one shouldn't also be served in a "salle polyvalent" at any time of year.

I recently translated "soupe populaire" (which amounts to very much the same thing) as "Popular picnic with free soup! (donations welcome)" but as the comments above have made clear, how you slice it will depend very strongly on the [lacking] context.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 18 hrs (2011-04-25 14:18:03 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I drew the attention of my translation guru to this: after she had stopping laughing, she congratulated me on the metatextuality of my translation, but failed to trump any of the responses so far proposed.
The collocation "shared repast" has swam into mind since I wrote my original post, but I reject it for being rather archaic and arcane, and for its religious connotations.

DouglasCarnall
France
Local time: 23:37
Native speaker of: English

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  Tony M: I think of all the potential mis-translations, this is the only one that could actually be dangerously inaccurate; of course it could be true; but if not, then the error would be a huge one! I've been to a variety of these, none of them ever 'free'
9 mins
  -> which is precisely why I ended my remarks with the statement that more context of the particular details of *this particular repas populaire* would be needed before one could possibly hope to render it economically in English.

disagree  Graham macLachlan: Wow, I hope you've taken out professional liability insurance! In this case, if the meal is free then the list would surely read "repas populaire gratuit".
26 mins
  -> Well, there's no need for this remark! That translation was offered freely as part of my volunteer activity, so I am completely confident I will not be sued. I think my account of my personal experiences of repas populaires and reaction to it add value.

disagree  cmwilliams (X): They're not always free.
35 mins
  -> see context provided. I merely offer my experience as a contribution to the solution. No reaction, no traction!

neutral  MatthewLaSon: There are a lot of "repas populaires" that are "gratuits" You didn't deserve three disagrees as you're on the right track.
15 hrs
  -> Well, thanks for that! I think it's been a valuable discussion.
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 day 3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): -2
favorite meal


Explanation:
Knowing that "soupe populaire" in fact means "soup kitchen", I would venture to say that it is not related to "repas populaire" and would be more along the lines of "favorite meal" such as in a restaurant where the meal most commonly ordered is the "favorite meal". Or perhaps something that a family makes on a regular basis and is the "repas populaire de la famille".

cdoucette (X)
Canada
Local time: 19:37
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  Tony M: That would be the wrong meaning of 'populaire' here (cf. 'bal populaire'=, and would not make sense in the context as given.
6 hrs

disagree  AllegroTrans: my favourite, your favourire, Jack's favourite......?
11 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 day 6 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5
repas populaire = repas associatif = community-style dinner/dinner open to the public


Explanation:
Hello,

You will see many ghits for "repas associatifs", which are just "community-style dinners".


I don't like "meal" for "repas" here in English. I prefer "dinner", unless it's specified as a breakfast or lunch-type thing.

In one instance I saw online, "repas populaire" at a primary school would be be translated as "school community luncheon" or something. So this more "all-purpose" term in French will need adapting in English, depending on the context.

I think the history of this is in the idea of a "soupe populaire", which are charity dinners for the poor, or very cheap meals for working-class (Montréal 1930's perhaps?)

Best of luck!

MatthewLaSon
Local time: 18:37
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 23
Grading comment
Thank you for your answer Matthew. I really hesitated for communal village meal but in the end I chose organised meal open to all - I had to put meal as whether it was lunch or dinner was not specified. It's a bit long but I think it does rule out most ambiguity. Thank you all for your answers as it is thanks to your work that I found the answer that I was most comfortable with - and to think I nearly put this question as non-pro!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Tony M: As you yourself say, 'dinner' is too risky without further context; I think 'community' is quite good, but don't feel one ought to add '-style'. Remember, 'populaire' just means 'of / for the people'
3 hrs
  -> In the US, "dinner" can mean "supper" or "lunch". That said, if not specified, I suppose "meal" is best. I'm not sure why you don't like "style", as it means just "community". Yes, I know what "populaire" means; in fact, I proposed "open to the public".
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 day 10 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
paraphrase?


Explanation:
Well, I hardly dare post an answer as no doubt it will be immediately dismissed like all the others (!), but I was wondering about re-phrasing the sentence to read something like:
...concerts, plays [...] exhibitions etc, plus of course the chance to sit down to a meal together while you soak up the atmosphere.



Gail Bond
United Kingdom
Local time: 22:37
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
Notes to answerer
Asker: I totally understand! I will think twice before posting a question again!

Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)




Reference comments


19 hrs peer agreement (net): +1
Reference

Reference information:
In Provence, a grand aioli is often a communal village meal.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4698039

... just enough time to feed the animals, have a quick shower and change before the evening's “pouletarde” – a communal village meal of chicken and frites. ...
www.kidsandknits.blogspot.com/

Where there is food there is drink in France. The buvette is always well attended and people buy aperitifs before sitting down for the communal meal. ...
hubpages.com › ... › Visiting Europe › France

cmwilliams (X)
United Kingdom
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 20
Note to reference poster
Asker: thank you for the references


Peer comments on this reference comment (and responses from the reference poster)
agree  MatthewLaSon
9 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.


See also:
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search