Why do I need to know copains comme cochons? This French expression is good to know to if you want to describe your relationship with your best friend. What does it mean? The expression, roughly pronounced koh-pan kom koh-shon (listen here), literally translates to “friends like pigs”. In reality it is used to describe two people who get on extremely well and spend a lot of time together. The English equivalent could be “thick as thieves”. In French, pigs don’t usually have the best reputation.
For example, the expression avoir un caractère de cochon (to have a pig’s character), meaning to be bad-tempered, or sale comme un cochon (as dirty as a pig). One notable exception, however, is copains comme cochons, which paints pigs in a much more positive light. But where does the expression come from? Cochon (pig) is one of the few French words whose origin remains uncertain. It doesn’t come from Latin or from the Germanic languages. One popular theory suggests it originated from the sound farmers
used to call pigs when feeding them – something like “kohr”- which supposedly evolved into cochon. But in reality, the cochon in copains comme cochons is believed to be derived from the Old French word soçon, which comes from the Latin socius meaning “companion”, “associate” or “partner”. The expression started as copains comme soçons, meaning being as close as two companions. Over time, however, soçon fell out of use and was gradually replaced by the word cochon, which was easier for speakers to remember and
pronounce. Use it like this Paul et Marc sont copains comme cochons depuis l’école primaire. – Paul and Marc have been as thick as thieves since primary school. Les deux collègues sont devenus copains comme cochons. – The two colleagues have become inseparable. Quand ils étaient enfants, ils étaient copains comme cochons. – When they were children, they were best friends.
copains comme cochons meaning, French expression, copains comme cochons pronunciation, friends like pigs, French idioms, soçon origin