A word that some will probably avoid in polite conversation

[pne]

The word is French and it's nycthémère.

A French speaker I spoke with once (years ago) had half-remembered the word but I only just found out what it is (after seeing the English equivalent, nycthemeron).

Bonus slang points for anyone who knows why French people might not want to use the word casually.

Comments

[relax-sven.livejournal.com]

Isn't that word especially used with night animals that only have sex when it's dark? The 'normal' translation's meaning is that of 'a day and a night'. Now, what do I win? :p

[pne.livejournal.com]

Isn't that word especially used with night animals that only have sex when it's dark?

Not that I've heard of... maybe you were going by what's in this article (http://www.monpetitcoin.com/dico/dicoN.html)? They seem to have their tongue planted firmly in their cheek in those definitions.

The 'normal' translation's meaning is that of 'a day and a night'.

Yes - a period of a day and a night, especially in regards to a biological cycle.

Now, what do I win? :p

Nothing! Wrong slang.

[relax-sven.livejournal.com]

Que tu sois maudit! I want my present *mocks*

[it0376.livejournal.com]

Would this have anything to do with νυχθημερόν?

[pne.livejournal.com]

Almost certainly.

(I would've guessed the Greek word would be stressed like νυχθήμερο(ν), though.)

It's certainly derived from some compound of νυξ and ημέρα.

[liv]

I had to read the comments to get the real etymology. But it also sounds like the French for "go fuck your mother", I believe. Cool word, thankyou.

[pne.livejournal.com]

But it also sounds like the French for "go fuck your mother", I believe.

Indeed; ten points for GryffinLivredor.

[tungol.livejournal.com]

How is it pronounced in IPA?

[pne.livejournal.com]

To the best of my knowledge, nycthémère is something like [nikte'mɛʀ]. The insult is the same but with [a] in the middle instead of [e].