Game over, une histoire d’amour et de désillusions
B1 French luyện nghe · Tiếng Pháp · Phù hợp với người học trung cấp
What does “aboutir” mean in French?
“Aboutir” looks like the English word “about,” but it means something different. In French it means to reach a result, to come through, or to succeed. A plan, a phone call, or talks can “aboutir” — or fail to. One memorable place you hear it is the recorded message when your call cannot connect — but aboutir is also common in news, admin, and formal everyday French.
The song ends with a real automated phone message: “Votre appel ne peut aboutir actuellement. Merci de raccrocher et de relancer votre appel ultérieurement.” In English: “Your call cannot go through right now. Please hang up and try again later.” After a whole song about a love that is over, the phone call no one answers is the perfect last picture — the call, like the relationship, cannot “aboutir.” “Aboutir” comes from “bout,” meaning the end or tip of something. The image is of reaching the far end — the point where something finally arrives at its result. You meet it often in news and in daily conversation. “Les négociations n’ont pas abouti” = “The talks led to nothing.” “Sa demande a abouti” = “His request came through.” It usually pairs with the helper verb “avoir”: “le projet a abouti.”