How Medieval Life Shaped French Expressions

This summer, I visited the Château de Crèvecoeur, a beautiful medieval castle in Normandy. During the great and interactive visit, an exposition stood out: the surprising medieval origins of everyday French words and expressions.

As someone who loves language history, I couldn’t resist writing this article. Some of these expressions are so common in French today that we don’t even question them. And yet, they carry centuries of stories. Here are five of my favorites, explained simply, with examples to help you remember them.

1. Why do we say "mettre la table" or "dresser la table"?

In modern life, the table is always there. So why do we say "mettre la table" (i.e. "set the table") as if the table itself were missing? Why not just "installer les couverts" ("install the cutlery")?

The answer goes back to the Middle Ages. In many houses at the time, people lived in one single room. There was no permanent table in the center. Instead, a plank of wood was brought out and placed on supports at mealtimes—then taken away afterward.

So “mettre la table” or “dresser la table” originally meant to physically bring out and install the table, not just to arrange the cutlery. And the expression remained.

2. Why do we say "porter un toast" (to make a toast)?

The word “toast” might sound English, and it actually is—but with French roots!

In the Middle Ages, when people wanted to honor someone, they would place a slice of toasted bread (called la toastée) into a cup of wine and share it with all the people celebrating. It was a gesture of friendship and celebration.

This practice became popular in England, and the word toast was borrowed back into French, this time in the phrase porter un toast—meaning to raise a glass and drink in someone’s honor.

3. Where does the word copain come from?

The word copain (friend, buddy) is made of two parts: co- and pain.

Pain means bread. So a copain was originally someone you shared your bread with. That’s beautiful, right? It reflects how food, friendship, and daily life were deeply connected.

That’s also why the spelling is important: copain is not just a phonetic word—it tells a story.

4. What does it mean to “tomber dans le panneau”?

You’ll hear this expression a lot in French: tomber dans le panneau means to fall into a trap, to be fooled by someone or something. "Ah, je suis tombée dans le panneau ! J'ai vu cette pub très alléchante et j'ai acheté le produit... mais ça ne marche pas !.."

The word panneau here doesn’t mean "sign" as in modern French. Obviously, because no one can fall into a sign! Indeed, in medieval hunting, a panneau was a large net used to catch birds or animals. So someone who "falls into the panel" was literally caught, like prey.

Today, the expression still means to be trapped, usually by a trick or by someone's manipulation.

5. What’s “une autre paire de manches”?

This French expression means “a whole different story” or “a completely different situation.”

Why “a different pair of sleeves”? In medieval times, clothing had detachable sleeves. Changing sleeves could mean changing activity, mood, or even social status. It’s a poetic way of saying that the situation has changed entirely—it’s no longer the same "garment."

So when a task becomes more difficult than expected, or when a conversation takes an unexpected turn, you might say: Ah, ça !... C’est une autre paire de manches !

French expressions are full of stories

What I love most about these expressions is how they show the daily life of people centuries ago. A time when tables were mobile, and friendships were made over bread.

If you enjoy learning about the history behind the language, let me know—I’d be happy to write more on this topic. Or better: start collecting your own list of curious French phrases and ask your French friends if they know the origin. You might be surprised by what you learn!

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