Amélie (movie) — Amélie Visits the Concierge

Excusez-moi.

Excuse me.

A polite way to get someone's attention or to apologize for a minor inconvenience.

Politeness is highly valued in French culture, and using 'Excusez-moi' shows respect.

Un petit garçon

A little boy

The word 'petit' means little or small, often used as an endearment.

In French, descriptors like 'petit' are often used with children to denote affection.

Qui habitait chez moi

Who lived at my place

The phrase 'chez moi' means 'at my house' or 'my place'.

The concept of 'chez' is uniquely used in French to denote someone's home or place.

Dans les années cinquante

In the fifties

French uses 'années' for 'decades', which directly translates to 'years'.

The 1950s in France were post-war years characterized by cultural transformations.

Ça vous dit rien?

Does that ring a bell?

A common phrase to ask if someone remembers something.

Often used when referring to memories or shared experiences.

Un petit garçon qui habitait chez moi dans les années cinquante, ça vous dit rien?

Would you know of a boy who lived in my flat in the '50s?

Combines elements like 'petit', 'chez' and 'années', demonstrating descriptive sentence structures.

Referring to past decades often brings a nostalgic or historical context.

Un gamin...

A boy?

'Gamin' is a colloquial term for 'boy', similar to 'kid'.

Using 'gamin' has a playful tone, often used affectionately.

Venez donc

Come then

'Donc' can imply a gentle insistence or encouragement.

Offering or inviting someone is often accompanied by 'donc' in French for friendliness.

Prendre un petit verre de Porto.

Have a small glass of Porto.

'Petit' here conveys the idea of a casual drink without commitment.

Porto is a fortified wine, and offering it is a hospitable gesture in France.