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Cinq à sept

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English speakers, does the expression “five to seven” mean anything to you? If you read the phrase, “they really enjoyed their five to sevens”, do you know what that’s about? Or should it be translated differently?

I’m trying to figure out if a translation of the Quebecois “cinq à sept” is good. By the way, popular as they are, nobody ever invited me to a cinq à sept in Quebec. Not once. They have no sexual meaning in Francophone Canada, just in case people have dirty interpretations of what I said.

15 responses to “Cinq à sept”

  1. cliff arroyo Avatar
    cliff arroyo

    “does the expression “five to seven” mean anything to you?”

    It means 6:55

    ““they really enjoyed their five to sevens”

    No idea…. I would guess something like “five o’clock tea”

    Or maybe a small party (just five to seven people invited or five to seven people total)

    But just guesses…

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    1. Clarissa Avatar
      Clarissa

      The five o’clock tea is the closest. But you’ve got to explain it in a translation, right?

      It’s a crappy translation for sure.

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      1. cliff arroyo Avatar
        cliff arroyo

        “you’ve got to explain it in a translation, right?”

        If the context doesn’t give it away, yes. I dislike footnotes in literary translation so I’d prefer a few words added to one of the first mentions.

        from

        “He’d been invited to a ‘five to seven’ but wasn’t sure if he wanted to go.”

        to

        “He’d been invited to a ‘five to seven’ but wasn’t sure if he wanted to attend a tea party with alcohol included.”

        that example is primitive and awkward but you get the idea….

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  2. Pen Avatar
    Pen

    I’ve never heard the term. Googling it, it seems it’s sometimes equated to a happy hour in restaurants, but then there’s the party-type aspect to it. I don’t think there is a specific equivalent to it.

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    1. Clarissa Avatar
      Clarissa

      It’s like the old-fashioned British tea but with booze.

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      1. Pen Avatar
        Pen

        Someone said cocktail hour, but typically that’s at a bar or restaurant—the closest thing may be a cocktail party, I think.

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  3. Avatar
    Anonymous

    “Cocktail hour” is my guess.

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  4. Avatar
    Anonymous

    never heard of it.

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  5. Avatar
    Anonymous

    I have to idea what it is but could it be a before dinner drink?

    Amanda

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  6. methylethyl Avatar
    methylethyl

    No idea.

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  7. Avatar
    Anonymous

    Seconding Cliff’s reading of 6:55.

    Reading other explanations, I got some sense of it. Would “happy hour” get at the intended meaning?

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  8. Ol. Avatar
    Ol.

    “Happy hour” works fine.

    5 à 7: in bars

    apéro (apéritif): at home (and more of a bougie term)

    Ol.

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  9. Ol. Avatar
    Ol.

    Also, university environment is not ideal for 5 à 7. I am not surprised you have never been invited to one. This is more of a corporate term, and is completely linked to going out with co-workers.

    Ol.

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  10. Peter Avatar
    Peter

    I’m British.

    cinq à sept is the post-work adultery time for our neighbours in Paris (and presumably the rest of France).

    Reading the other comments I think it might relate to after-work drinks (in a pub or a bar I assume) and I’d either describe it as such or as happy hour.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Peter Avatar
      Peter

      and if its a Friday drinks event then you might get to celebrate poets day at the local.
      (pee off early tomorrow’s Saturday)

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