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Les immanquables

English translation: Not to be missed

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
French term or phrase:Les immanquables
English translation:Not to be missed
Entered by: SafeTex

08:04 Jun 30, 2013
French to English translations [PRO]
Marketing - Journalism
French term or phrase: Les immanquables
Hello

This is the heading of a paragraph that is going to talk of tourist sites that you absolutely must see.

None of the words I've found quite fit for me plus there is the problem of the plural -eg. the unmissables ???

I was going to use the phrase "it's a must" but that doesn't work for the same reason, "they're musts"???

Thanks
SafeTex
France
Local time: 03:45
Not to be missed
Explanation:
I wouldn't worry about the plural - if you avoid the article it's not an issue.

And I see it's very common, despite quite frankly being a rather clumsy expression: "the not to be missed "Shepherds' Ice-cream Parlour" with a great selection of homemade ice-creams" http://www.breconcottages.com/cottage-details/OLDFOR

I suppose another option would be "worth a detour" which I think is Michelin's take on it.
Selected response from:

Noni Gilbert Riley
Spain
Local time: 03:45
Grading comment
Hello
I chose this one but there really wasn't much in it. Thanks everyone
2 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +9Not to be missed
Noni Gilbert Riley
4 +9Must sees
John Holland
3Unmissable (attractions or sights)
Colin Morley (X)


  

Answers


5 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +9
Not to be missed


Explanation:
I wouldn't worry about the plural - if you avoid the article it's not an issue.

And I see it's very common, despite quite frankly being a rather clumsy expression: "the not to be missed "Shepherds' Ice-cream Parlour" with a great selection of homemade ice-creams" http://www.breconcottages.com/cottage-details/OLDFOR

I suppose another option would be "worth a detour" which I think is Michelin's take on it.

Noni Gilbert Riley
Spain
Local time: 03:45
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 2
Grading comment
Hello
I chose this one but there really wasn't much in it. Thanks everyone

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Yvonne Gallagher: I like "worth a detour" for a heading though other alternatives work as well...
47 mins
  -> Thanks
agree  Nikki Scott-Despaigne: "Not to be missed" alone is fine. If the Asker decides to follow it with a noun, then it will become "The not-to-be-missed XXX". The former, as you suggest is fine.
51 mins
  -> Thanks Nikki
agree  Peter LEGUIE: Yes; I have sometimes come across "incontournables", stirring up similar difficulties. These responses will be helpful.
2 hrs
  -> Thanks Peter
agree  Victoria Britten: For me "worth the detour", whilst undeniably idiomatic, isn't imperative enough
3 hrs
  -> Thanks Victoria
agree  Marie Jackson: I like all three answers but this one seems to fit the context best.
4 hrs
  -> Thanks Marie
agree  writeaway: one of the most (over) used words in French marketing (along with incontournable). Shows up all the time. nice solution
4 hrs
  -> Thanks.
agree  philgoddard: These are all fine, but you were first. "Don't miss" would be more concise.
7 hrs
  -> Thanks Phil.
agree  Lara Barnett
8 hrs
  -> Thanks Lara.
agree  Catherine Gilsenan
1 day 4 hrs
  -> Thanks Catherine.
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8 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Unmissable (attractions or sights)


Explanation:
Can't see a problem with a direct translation here. Google "unmissable attractions" and you'll get quite a large response.

Colin Morley (X)
France
Local time: 03:45
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
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26 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +9
Must sees


Explanation:
Just another alternative.

Here are some examples of this term used in British and American English to refer to tourist sights:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/natureuk/2010/08/snorkelling-top-...
http://www.bbc.com/travel/slideshow/20121207-the-must-sees-o...

http://edition.cnn.com/2012/07/03/travel/must-see-sights-on-...
http://www.visitshawnee.com/Must_Sees
http://www.visitcalifornia.com/Must-Sees/?chapter=&category=...

From the examples above, it seems that the hyphen is optional ("must sees" or "must-sees" are both used).

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 6 hrs (2013-06-30 14:25:17 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Thanks for all the hyphen comments, everyone. I agree.

John Holland
France
Local time: 03:45
Works in field
Native speaker of: English

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Nikki Scott-Despaigne: The hyphen is not optional.
35 mins
  -> Thanks
agree  Daryo: "must-sees"
1 hr
  -> Thanks
agree  mill2
3 hrs
  -> Thanks
agree  Helen Shiner: With the hyphen, too.
4 hrs
  -> Thanks
agree  writeaway: one of the most (over) used words in French marketing (along with incontournable). Shows up all the time. nice solution
5 hrs
  -> Thanks
agree  tkyrs: with hyphen
5 hrs
  -> Thanks
agree  Kévin Bernier
15 hrs
  -> Thanks
agree  Wolf Draeger
1 day 3 hrs
  -> Thanks
agree  Yolanda Broad
1 day 11 hrs
  -> Thanks
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