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Quiz about Famous French Acronyms
Quiz about Famous French Acronyms

Famous French Acronyms Trivia Quiz


Here's a quiz on some acronyms used in daily life in France that are useful to know. Bonne chance!

A multiple-choice quiz by Bruyere. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
Bruyere
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
197,921
Updated
Jul 23 22
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
6 / 10
Plays
1744
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. If you need to take an intercity (city to city) train in France, what acronym in French do you need to know? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. If you want to pay a bill directly from your bank, get direct deposit or perform many other transactions, this acronym is indispensable in France. Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. Most French kids and many adults spend lots of money on these, which are the preferred reading material of the multitudes. The abbreviation comes from the French term for "drawn strips." Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Which of these is something that many people in France do not wish to eat? Or at least they'd prefer being informed so that they have a choice of eating them.

Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. If you require medical assistance, who do you call on the phone in France?

Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. If someone types MDR in an internet dialogue in French, what do they mean? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. If you are an SDF, what does this mean in France? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. If you're interested in scientific research, then this French acronym is for you. Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. Now then, if you receive a "PV" in France, who is liable to be giving it to you and why?

Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. What is the acronym in French for formally declaring a relationship between two consenting unrelated adults at City Hall? Hint



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Most Recent Scores
Mar 12 2024 : jonnowales: 10/10
Feb 25 2024 : a_d_p: 6/10

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. If you need to take an intercity (city to city) train in France, what acronym in French do you need to know?

Answer: SNCF

"Société Nationale de Chemin de Fer" is literally the national railroad company. 'Chemin de Fer' is literally, road or way made of iron. They often go on strike at strategic moments of the year. The SMIC stands for 'salaire minimum interprofessionel de croissance." If you only earn this minimum wage, you get the wonderful nickname of 'smicard' which means one who's just earning the SMIC. If they speak about smicards in the paper, they are generally talking about how difficult it is to live on the minimum wage.

The EDF is the Electricite de France or French electric company. The TIP is a payment method between banks or to pay bills.
2. If you want to pay a bill directly from your bank, get direct deposit or perform many other transactions, this acronym is indispensable in France.

Answer: RIB

« Relevé d'Identité Bancaire" is a little slip on your statement which you detach and give to the person to whom you wish to pay, or who is to pay you. The money is taken directly out of your account. The RER is the Parisian train system or 'Réseau Express Régional" that links to the Metro which goes out to the suburbs. You have one from the airports as well.

The PNB is the "Produit nationale Brut" or GNP in English.
3. Most French kids and many adults spend lots of money on these, which are the preferred reading material of the multitudes. The abbreviation comes from the French term for "drawn strips."

Answer: BD

"Une bande dessinee" means comic strip or book or album and the French consume millions of them and normally call them BDs for short. "Quartier Générale" means headquarters. HLM means 'habitation de loyer modéré' or publicly funded housing. CP means "Cours primaire" or US equivalent of First grade when you are six. CP is considered one of the most difficult years as before that you get to play a bit more, and in CP you must learn to write French, a dreaded prospect for many kids. For many of these kids, BD will continue to be their preferred reading material.
4. Which of these is something that many people in France do not wish to eat? Or at least they'd prefer being informed so that they have a choice of eating them.

Answer: OGM

"Organisme Génétiquement modifié" means GMO and French law states you must warn consumers if there are OGMs in their food. Apparently it's a bit late, as it's hard to stop the infiltration of this food into the chain. ONU means "Organisation des Nations Unies".
5. If you require medical assistance, who do you call on the phone in France?

Answer: SAMU

SAMU means 'Service D'Aide Médicale Urgent' and often when people refer to calling them, they use the plural. "Appelez vite les SAMU!" The TGV is the Train a Grande Vitesse, or France's high speed train. You can know travel from Paris to Marseille in approximately three hours, much faster than crossing either of those cities in rush hour! MSF is the "Médecins Sans Frontières » or Doctors without borders. These volunteers operate in war torn and poverty stricken countries. PACA is short for the region of "Provence Alpes Côte d'Azur".
6. If someone types MDR in an internet dialogue in French, what do they mean?

Answer: They're dying laughing.

Mort de Rire, or MDR is about the equivalent of LOL in chatspeak in French. On the internet, the French tend to spell phonetically with k's instead of qu, and other sundry modifications to their language. It little resembles French and uses 'Verlan' or envers =backwards language. ASV is "age sexe, vocation" or age, gender and career in French.
7. If you are an SDF, what does this mean in France?

Answer: Homeless

"Sans Domicile fixe" means homeless and there are many measures destined to help them. Unfortunately even in a country with many social protections, it is hard to deal with those who fall through the holes in the safety net. A PDG is the "President Directeur Général" or company chairman. EDF is "Electricité de France."
8. If you're interested in scientific research, then this French acronym is for you.

Answer: CNRS

CNRS is short for "Centre Nationale de Recherche Scientifique ». The CRS is the police force that goes to keep demonstrations from becoming riots, perform mountain and beach rescues and whose motorcycle patrol does highway patrolling. Their true title is the "Compagnies Républicaines de Sécurité".

A SICAV is a « Sociétés d'Investissement à Capital Variable » or an investment. An SA is a « Société Anonyme ».
9. Now then, if you receive a "PV" in France, who is liable to be giving it to you and why?

Answer: A police officer or meter reader, it's a ticket

A PV is the most common way to refer to a 'contravention' or ticket or violation of some sort. It stands for a 'Procès Verbal' which I could never figure out because; you normally didn't get to say much when you got one. Curiously enough, when someone puts one on your windshield, it's called 'verbalisé' though.
10. What is the acronym in French for formally declaring a relationship between two consenting unrelated adults at City Hall?

Answer: PACS

"Pacte Civil de Solidarité » is a contract concluded between two adults of same or different gender to be mutually responsible for one another. In French the verb 'pacser' exists now. ANPE is 'Agence Nationale Pour L'Emploi' or the Unemployment Agency.
Picsou isn't an acronym but the name for Scrooge in French ( il pique des sous).
Source: Author Bruyere

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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