Your Period in Paris

You thought you packed everything you need for your trip to Paris until BOOM, you get your period unexpectedly. Then you notice there are no tampon or pad dispensers in the public bathrooms. Aha! Another opportunity for learning le quotidien French…. the everyday language that you didn’t learn in school.

In French, the menses are les règles (f) or les menstrues (f) or la menstruation. The general term for ‘feminine hygiene products’ as the Mad Men of advertising coined them is les protections périodiques (f).

Pads are serviettes hygiéniques (f), protège-dessous (m) and sometimes come with wings, ailettes. They come in a variety of absorbancies: léger, moyen, super, super plus or de nuit.

Tampons are les tampons (m), but remember that un tampon is also the name for a rubber stamp in French.

Pantyliners are des protèges-slips (m).

You can find these products in large grocery stores. You might need to ask:”Vous pourriez m’indiquer le rayon hygiène féminine?” Could you please indicate to me the feminine hygiene department?  Or “Je voudrais une boîte de tampons” I’d like a box of tampons. Or “Je voudrais un pacquet de serviettes hygiéniques.” I’d like a package of menstrual pads. Or perhaps you’re in a bathroom stall with a real emeregency and bold enough to ask of someone in the stall beside you: ” Tu aurais une serviette hygiénique à me passer?” Would you have period pad to pass me?

There are many idioms for having your period:

les anglais ont débaqué (the redcoats have landed), avoir ses ragnagnas (les ragnagnas (f) = slang for your period), les fournis rouges attaquent, avoir ses gnoufs (le gnouf = slang for prison), avoir ses bricoles (une bricole = a trifle), écraser des tomates…..

And then there are these:

If you live long enough, you’ll need les couches-adulte or les couches-urinaires (f), adult diapers.

At least in France they have more fashionable options: