perpète

forever

adverb pair-PET Rare

Origin: Shortened form of perpétuité, as in à perpétuité (in perpetuity).

Also means

miles away (slang)

Usage Note

Perpète is a colloquial shortening used in two main idioms: à perpète meaning 'forever' or 'for life' (originally a slang term for a life sentence), and à perpète-les-oies meaning 'in the middle of nowhere' or 'miles away'. Both are distinctly informal. Learners should avoid these in formal writing.

Examples

"Ce travail va durer à perpète."

Natural Translation

This work is going to last forever.

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