Voilà!

Voilà, is such a fantastically versatile word in the french language. As an adverb it means many things such as here or there or this or that is, etc. but it is the use of voilà as an interjection, usually meaning that's it! where it comes in particularly useful, especially when you have no idea what you are saying!!  You hear in punctuating conversation perhaps more than any other word in France.

For instance, the other day I was in St. Saturnin Les Apt and asked for directions to a mas that was just outside of town.  The chap I asked really didn't know exactly where it was but that didn't stop him from giving me assured directions using a variety of hand signals, whistles, clucking signs and the coup de grâce, a voilà at the end.  The voilà is very important in this sequence as it has two meanings, a) please don't ask me any more stupid questions b) if you didn't understand this then you are an idiot.

So the conversation went something like this.

Me:
Monsieur savez-vous où se trouve le Mas Perréal?

The Monsieur: 
Le Mas Perréal? Ah bon (said while scratching his chin)


Descendez là (pointing to a road going downhill and accompanied by a short whistle)

A la croisse, tak (the tak sound is accompanied by a right turn hand signal)

Et tak, tak, (a left then right turn hand signal)

Et (a long warbling whistle and a hand motion resembling a fish swimming, indicating a windy road)

Et voilà le mas!! (accompanied by upturned hands and a shrug)

The preferred response to these um precise directions is either a curt merci monsieur or a slightly suspicious ah bon? if choosing the latter, some eyebrow gymnastics help add emphasis.

Then you have a decision to make, either trust that his directions will get you into the right general area or discreetly ask someone else but watch out if they say voilà!!

So remember, if in doubt, shrug your shoulders, wave your arms frantically and perform a pas de deux with your eyebrows and last but not least say et voilà!