I should know this, but I don't quite have it. Americans will, on occasion, chant U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A! when cheering on national sport teams or at patriotic rallies. What would the French equivalent be? I know a lot of such for French football, but none of those seem applicable to France itself. Thanks for your help.
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2« Allez les bleus » semble être le plus populaire– PersonneCommented Feb 25, 2020 at 22:37
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1Just like U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A! has a specific rhythm to it when it's chanted by supporters, so does Allez les Bleus ! Allez les Bleus ! Allez and les should be lengthened and bleus clipped with glottal closure. Something like: /ale:le:bløʔ/. You can hear it there youtube.com/watch?v=eeonwSgg61Q– grandtoutCommented Feb 28, 2020 at 13:20
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3 Answers
Allez les bleus ! already suggested by cl-r in a comment is common when supporting a national team but is only used when a sport team is involved.
For other kinds of patriotic rallies, singing the Marseillaise would be the usual way to show support.
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You also have this very famous and popular song from Johnny Hallyday called "Tous ensemble" :) youtube.com/watch?v=9ku9s0CKbpY Commented Feb 28, 2020 at 15:38
For a three syllable (like "U-S-A!") patriotic exclamation, there's "Vive La France!" but, as mentioned in lawless.com's entry for that expression:
You probably won’t hear the patriotic exclamation Vive la France ! more than a few times a year [as] it tends to be reserved for occasions like Bastille Day, French elections, international sports, and, sadly, national tragedy.(the "French elections" link to youtube was also found in that same lawless.com entry)
Please note, however, that in addition to lawless.com's caution about "probably [not hearing] ... 'Vive la France!' more than a few times a year," I would also caution that the following videos that I found of people repeatedly chanting these three syllables in organized unison (as is done with "U-S-A!") were not filmed in France, which could mean that this staccato/repetitive/in unison use of "Vive La France! Vive La France! Vive La France!" is a "non-French-native" way of paying homage to and showing solidarity with France (and not one that is typically used in France by French natives):
General de Gaulle in Mexico (where at the very beginning it sounds to me like the crowd is chanting "Vive la France!") (from britishpathe.com)
Solidarity with France shown in London following the November 2015 Paris attacks (posted by guardianwitness on youtube)
answered Feb 27, 2020 at 18:27
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1Excellent observation. La Marseillaise seems the best "usage" equivalent, though it does not directly equate to a simple cheer. I wish I could select both of these answers as correct. This was what I was trying to understand. Thank you. Commented Feb 27, 2020 at 19:52
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1Yes, heads of state or other polititians can and sometimes say Vive la France ! in speeches, but this is definitely not something a French crowd will chant.– jlliagreCommented Feb 27, 2020 at 19:52
One can say "Allez les Bleus !" but a lot of people think they are saying "Aller les Bleus !"; this last spelling (on banners for instance) is not correct (ref.).
It is also possible to say "Allez les bleus, allez la France" (ref.). Of course you can also write "Allez la France !" on banners and say it too (ref.).
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1How is this interesting since we already have a better answer with the same information?– EvpokCommented Feb 26, 2020 at 18:25
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@Evpok It is not complete: is not mentionned that the form "Aller…" is not correct; neither is it mentioned that you can say "Allez la France !". It is not a "better" answer, nor is mine "better" : neither is complete.– LPHCommented Feb 26, 2020 at 19:10
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3I never heard anyone chant “Allez la France” so I don't think that extra part is correct. Also the remark on aller is off-topic.– EvpokCommented Feb 27, 2020 at 10:15
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@Evpok This is actually the title of a french song, I certainly won't call it incorrect Commented Feb 28, 2020 at 15:50