voolay

voolay

English

Etymology

Spelling representing a U.S. pronunciation of the French word voulez.

Verb

voolay

1. Eye dialect spelling indicating a non-French-speaker pronouncing the French word voulez.
   • 1939, Patrick A. Meade, Born to Trouble, page 158:

     Our troops learned French quickly, and the street echoed to "Voolay voo cusha avick mores," and the dames rapidly grasped Tommy's French.

   • 1973, Victor Sawdon Pritchett, Midnight Oil page 17:

     His sallow skin looked as though it had been painted with walnut stain, and he spoke French fast but with an entirely English pronunciation. His "combiangs" and "ker voolay voos" raced through the tongue of Moliere like a rusty lawn mower.

   • 2011, Donna Tartt, The Secret History, page 50:

     Find a little can-can girl or something. Voolay-voo coushay avec moi and all that.

See also

• vooley