Amélie (movie) — Visiting the photobooth

Venez,

Come,

The ‘-ez’ ending indicates this is a formal or plural imperative.

Using ‘Venez’ with a slight gesture is common when inviting someone along.

Je vais vous aider.

I am going to help you.

‘Vous’ is the formal or plural way to say ‘you’ in French.

Offering help is a friendly gesture often appreciated in French culture.

Venez, je vais vous aider.

Let me help you.

Combining ‘Venez’ and ‘vous aider’ shows intention and politeness.

This phrase reflects the courteousness typical in French interpersonal interactions.

On descend

We go down

‘On’ can mean ‘we’, commonly used in informal spoken French.

‘On descend’ might be heard in a metro or any descending path in France.

Et, hop, c'est parti...

And, hop, there we go...

‘Hop’ is an interjection used to express effort or motion in French.

It’s often said playfully, like when helping a child up.

On descend et, hop, c'est parti...

Step down. Off we go!

Combining phrases gives a sense of action and readiness.

This phrase carries an adventurous air, often used in light-hearted contexts.

Là on croise la veuve

There we meet the widow

‘Croiser’ means to come across or meet by chance.

In small towns, meeting familiar people while out is common, highlighting the tight-knit community feel.

Du tambour de la fanfare.

Of the band drummer.

‘Tambour’ is a specific word for a type of drum used in parades.

Fanfare bands are popular in France, especially during festivals.

Là on croise la veuve du tambour de la fanfare.

We just passed the drum major's widow!

Using ‘la veuve’ implies familiarity with local characters.

Mentioning specific local individuals reflects the richness of local storytelling.