What does what mean in french

What does ‘Germaine’ mean in French?

I am reading an old code base written by a previous French colleague. He named a variable ‘Germaine’, which is the percentage of hotel room booked. This variable is used to set price for the rest of the rooms: obviously the less rooms left, the higher our price is for the rest.

I searched internet and found that this word means ‘German’ or ‘Germany’ in French, or a Saint

5 Answers 5

I believe in the US you spell it germane, which means indeed «related to». So probably in the context they ment that the price was related to the number of booked romms.

To my knowledge it’s not used in any locution and it’s not slang for anything. It was probably chosen at random, I really don’t see what it would have to do with booked hotel rooms. Maybe your colleague’s mother is named Germaine.

PS: «German» is translated as «allemand» in French. «Germany» is «Allemagne». «Germanic» is «germanique» though.

In Quebec French, germaine is slang for a bossy woman. It is a portmanteau word created from the verbs «gérer» (manage) and «mener» (lead).

Although i doubt it got it’s name from that slang, it might have been formed the same way. In programming you often create names by mashing two or more words together. Also, since programming terms are often in english, the original words might be french, english or even another language if your area has a different native language.

It could also be nonsense, programmers are notorious for that sort of thing.

If he is French from France, and not Canadian (as in this case, it could be other reasons I guess), it’s likely he gave this name because of the connotations of the name «Germaine».

Germaine is a very old-fashioned name. It’s a given name. A granny name.
(Until it comes back à la mode again)

There’s a Renaud’s song (maybe he is a Renaud fan?) called «Germaine»,
in which he declares his love to a woman called Germaine, that plays musette, and talks like Arletty. = It’s not exactly an evidence of modernity. Hence the humorous side of the song, with a lag between his love as still a young man, and having a granny dancing the java.

The male name is Germain, and the female Germaine.
It’s the equivalent of the name «Jermaine» in English (one of the brother of Michael Jackson), but given to girls.

The French name Germain became Jermaine in English, when borrowed.

Etymology:
Germaine could come from «Germany» (or rather «germanicus», from Germany) as one of the possible etymology, etc, but it’s only the etymology, and only one of the hypothesis.

A more accepted one, is that «Germain» (male) «Germaine» (female) comes from the old German «gari», meaning «spear», and for the «main», the hypothesis are very different according to the source, some says it means «man», some other it’s from «mundo» meaning «protective», so a protective spear.

Another possible etymology, is that it comes from the Latin «germanus» meanins «coming from the same blood/family».

The English word «germane» meaning related, comes from French «germain» as in «cousins germains».

I’ve searched for a possible link between the name «Germaine» and the prostitution (as you mentioned an «hotel»), and I’ve found nothing. So, it’s not the right track.

It sounds more like a joke, rather than some other deep meanings.