Un délai (uhn day-lay) is a false cognate. It looks and sounds like “a delay” in English, but it means “a time period.” For example, un délai de deux semaines means “for a two week period.” The confusion between un délai and its English look-alike is exacerbated by its secondary meaning of “an extension.” Some of my students have been known to ask for un délai d’un jour, or “a one day extension” when it comes time to submit a project. Hard-hearted Mme. Gilbert usually tells them respecter le délai, or “to observe the deadline. “ Maybe if they used a beautiful calendar by photographer Nichole Robertson (available here) they’d be inspired to look at it enough to keep track of their deadlines. (Hint, Santa, I’d love one of these.)

Paris in Love, Nichole Robertson