3

How would you say "curious adventures" in French? I understand you can say curieuses aventures or aventures curieuses but don't understand the differences between them

Improve this question
4
  • 5
    Where to place the adjective will depend on the context and you are not giving much. You should really try to use the adjective in a sentence or say what you already know about curieux. Please visit the help centre and especially How do I ask a good question?. This question might help you: Les adjectifs qui ont deux sens.
    – None
    Commented Oct 30, 2023 at 18:55
  • 3
    Indeed the adjective curieux can have two meanings (just as the adjective "curious" in Br. English), but using it with the noun aventures there's no hesitation as to the meaning (just as in English you would not say that adventures are inquisitive, but they can be strange). So where you will place the adjective will depend on other criteria than the meaning and if you want any serious help you'll need to modify your question and be more specific and use the words in a sentence, it's just possible that in the sentence you want to write it won't matter.
    – None
    Commented Oct 31, 2023 at 7:38
  • 2
    @None On peut voir deux sens pour curieux dans curieuses aventures et aventures curieuses, le deuxième par imitation de aventures gourmandes, aventures qui flattent la gourmandise, aventures qui excitent la curiosité.
    – Frank
    Commented Oct 31, 2023 at 13:37
  • Does this answer your question? Why is it "une vie meilleure", not "une meilleure vie"?
    – guillaume31
    Commented Dec 13, 2023 at 8:22

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
2

The short answer is: both placements of the adjective are correct, so don't bother and pick whichever you prefer. In all likelihood, your publisher will make you change for the other anyway.

Assuming the expression is part of a book title, I would translate Curieuses aventures. Depending on the full title, Les curieuses aventures might be indicated. Depending on the contents on the book, I might settle for Bizarres aventures, Aventures bizarres or Aventures peu banales.

If the adventures in question are those of J.-J. Audubon, a publisher has already chosen Curieuses aventures d'un naturaliste for you. If they are both curious and enjoyable, you have Desrosiers' Aventures curieuses et plaisantes de M. Galimafrée, homme du jour.

The only embarrassing case is where two meanings are possible and mutually exclusive. In English, curious can mean either odd-looking or nosy, not both; so can the translation curieux. As a result, un personnage curieux is ambiguous: both meanings are plausible at first sight.
On the other hand, the charitable writer has un curieux personnage available, with the clichéed meaning of an odd chap; as a result of the result, they are expected to prefer it whenever it matches the intended meaning.
As a result of this result of the result, un personnage curieux is a nosy fellow until proven otherwise.

Improve this answer
0

It is better to say "Les curieuses aventures", the difference is the context in which they are used.

Improve this answer
1
  • 3
    Bienvenue sur French Language SE. How does this answer the question? This would benefit from an explanation about the difference in context and a source or citation. Voici le help center et le tour pour tes edits.
    – livresque
    Commented Nov 11, 2023 at 5:12

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.