Quétaine

Deragotary term mainly used in the french province of Québec, in Canada. It refers to someone who often acts in silliness regarding some aspects of their life, but the « quétainerie » is a phenomenon to be observed, for the quétaine does not know he is one. A quétaine is someone who applies diverse kitsch manners that varies from dressing, socializing, absence of bravery, compliance to authority, table manners, etc. Quétaine more often refers to someone who is weak and is worth of rejection.

Though the etymology has some confusing history, it appears that the majority of linguists agrees on one main explanation. Quétaine derives from the family name Keaton. The Keatons were rich anglo saxons that established themselves in poorer rural french Québec. Their weird manners were noted and laughed upon (weakness to winter, digust towards dirt, clueless in real hardworking jobs). The name Keaton then was turned into a more acceptable form in the québécois language, thus the spelling Quétaine.

Ta chambre est pleine de posters des Backstreet Boys, c’est tellement quétaine! / Your room is full of Backstreet Boys’ posters, that’s so quétaine! (Noun)

C’est vraiment une chambre quétaine. / It’s really a quétaine room.

by QcGlamdring December 24, 2018

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