What is the meaning of the colloquial French expression “le titi parisien”? I've googled this several times, and while several answers come up, as a moderately fluent French speaker they don't “feel” right to me. Since this is a question of “argot,” the nuance has to be just right, hence I'm coming here for insight from live humans.
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4Welcome to FL&U! What doesn't feel right in the Wikipedia article for example?– Alexis PigeonCommented Jul 12, 2013 at 15:57
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It is also mentioned in Papillon, on page 258, which I am currently reading a fantastic read by the way It refers to " A genuine Parisian titi - a tough, a wide boy" he was called Titi la Belote, because he was a wonderful Belote player, in his own words Papillon by Henri Charriere, the true story of Papillon, I can't put the book down !– Richard MaddockCommented Aug 24, 2019 at 4:25
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4 Answers
I think the best English equivalent for it is urchin, as in a street urchin. Bear in mind that the quintessential titi parisien is Victor Hugo's Gavroche.
In Dictionnaire des locutions françaises, un titi (pop.) is given the following grammatical explanation:
Le mot est sans doute de formation enfantine, un redoublement de [pe]tit.
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Do you think one could use it of an adult? As in, "lui, c'est un titi parisien," meaning "he's a real Parisian." A more colorful way of saying "c'est un vrai parisien." Or is it too literally linked to childhood (urchinhood)? Thanks.– JeffreyCommented Jul 14, 2013 at 17:26
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It is exclusively used of children. But only in a historical context (specifically the 19th century).– indoxicaCommented Jul 14, 2013 at 17:32
According to the TLF dictionary, le titi parisien is a 'typical' parisian kid. Like Gavroche, as Indoxica said in his answer, un gavroche being a synonym of un titi parisien according to the same dictionary.
This kid doesn't exist anymore though. This expression refers to kids of the mid/late 19th century.
As a French, please allow me to answer your question, backing up on the French wikipedia that seems complete.
Titi parisien est une expression familière, en France, pour désigner un « enfant de Paris », déluré, dégourdi et farceur, dont l'archétype est le personnage de Gavroche dans le roman Les Misérables de Victor Hugo ; puis, par extension, un adulte issu des classes populaires parisiennes.
A "Titi parisien" is a colloquial expression, in France to define a "child of Paris", resourceful, bright, and a practical joker, the archetype of which is the Gavroche character in "les Misérables" by Victor Hugo; then, consequently, an adult from popular classes in Paris.
You may Google "Titi parisien" and look at the pictures. All those with a cap on represent the titi parisien I grew up knowing.
That's what wikipedia says about the expression, but actually what we call "titi parisien" is also the patois/local dialect that used to be talked in 1920-30 in Paris with expressions like "meszigues/teszigues/seszigues" as to say "moi/toi/lui". But that's a parisian thing (aa)
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My wife, who is from Paris, has used the expression "avec une voix de titi parisiene" to describe a middle aged woman she encountered.– rolfedhCommented Jan 6, 2016 at 12:23