[fr > en] What does « voué à l’échec » mean?

Here is the context it was used in:

D’après elle, « l’essai de décriminalisation » du gouvernement était voué à l’échec dès le départ.

Thank you in advance.

On a somewhat related note, does anyone know of websites or channels that are less depressing than CBC where I can read, listen to, or watch French content? I recently started using Loops, and the algorithm started suggesting some French accounts. If anyone has any recommendations, I'd really appreciate it.

9 points · 6 comments · view on lemmy.world

6 Comments

Cardinalis@sh.itjust.works · 5 pts · 208d (5 replies)

It means “doomed to fail”.

Maybe try the Mauril app…

k0e3@lemmy.ca · 2 pts · 208d (4 replies)

So voué à = destined to, échec = failure, is that correct?

And thank you for the app recommendation. I'll check that out!

Cardinalis@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 207d (3 replies)

Short answer: yes.

Long, absolutely superfluous, answer:

Échec = Failure

Voué is the past participle of vouer which can mean to bless/offer to god or, in our case, to vow or solemnly promise.

So I guess a poetic translation would be like “Betrothed to failure.”

PS: I originally forgot to mention, but vouer mostly archaic. You’ll likely only encounter it as part of that expression.

k0e3@lemmy.ca · 2 pts · 206d

Thank you! So vouer is not something I need to worry about trying to incorporate into my everyday conversation (unless my life is full of failures).

k0e3@lemmy.ca · 2 pts · 203d (1 reply)

I was listening to a podcast and the expression « voué aux gemonies » came up! I had to look up what the expression meant, but I at least knew what « voué » meant thanks to you :)

Cardinalis@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 202d

I actually had to look it up myself. That is a very French (nationality) expression and I’m French Canadian…