What does “papillonner” mean in French?
apprendre le verbe français « papillonner »
A2 French listening practice · Swiss French · Picked for people who know a little
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papillonner
French verb from an animal
to flit from one thing — or one person — to the next without settling
Un papillon is a butterfly, and papillonner is what it does: move flower to flower without staying anywhere. French applies it to people. At work it describes someone who starts a dozen things and finishes none; in love it describes someone who collects short relationships. The one verb covers both, because the complaint is the same — plenty of movement, no landing.
The tone stays light: il papillonne is teasing rather than damning. If you actually want to criticise someone’s love life you would reach for volage (fickle) — which is why papillonner survives as the word you can use in front of the person.
From Learn French With Justine↗ on YouTube.Watch original
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