In France, “concubine” does not mean the same thing as in english. This I discovered when I went to visit Philippe* in hospital and discovered to my alarm that I had been listed as his concubine. I immediately sought out the medical administration staff to have the record corrected. “I most certainly am not a concubine” I explained in my best, most indignant french, hand on my forehead palm-side up.
They just laughed.
“No, Madame. Concubine means someone who lives with another person but isn’t married or in a recognised civil partnership.”
Oh.
Apparently you can even get a certificate of concubinage which helps you get the same or similar benefits as if you were actually married or in a civil partnership. The nurse explained she had her certificate framed as she’d been a concubine for 30 years.
I’ll never get used to this one.
*not his real name
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