montagnes russes
French edit
Etymology edit
Literally, “Russian mountains”, a predecessor to the modern roller coaster popular in 18th century Russia and introduced in Paris in 1812 under the name Les Montagnes Russes à Belleville.
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
montagnes russes f pl (plural only)
- rollercoaster (amusement ride)
- Holonym: parc d’attractions
- 2010, Paulo Coelho, Onze minutes (original title: Onze minutos), Flammarion (publ.).
- Je suis restée très longtemps devant les montagnes russes : je voyais que la plupart des gens entraient là en quête d’émotions mais, une fois que les véhicules se mettaient en marche, ils mouraient de peur et suppliaient qu’on les arrête.
- I stood for a long time by the roller coaster, and I noticed that most people get on it in search of excitement, but that once it starts, they are terrified and want the cars to stop.
- rollercoaster (any situation in which there are ups and downs or violent changes; hectic situation)
- 2020 October 27, Enguérand Renault, “Le groupe M6 s’adapte aux montagnes russes de la crise sanitaire”, in Le Figaro:
Usage notes edit
- The singular montagne russe is rarely used.
Descendants edit
- → Catalan: muntanyes russes (calque)
- → Italian: montagne russe (calque)
- → Portuguese: montanha-russa (calque)
- → Spanish: montaña rusa (calque)