"L'appartement était confortable mais peu chaleureux."

Translation: The apartment was comfortable but not very warm.

[Anneduol1ngo]

Given DL's sentence and translation, would 'L'appartement était confortable mais un peu chaleureux.' translate to 'The apartment was comfortable but a little warm.'? This is what I thought the sentence meant until I saw DL's translation.

[n6zs]

The idea is that "un peu xxx" does not mean anything toward the upper end of the scale--just the opposite. So when we say "a little warm", it suggests that it is in fact a bit too warm. That is not the meaning of "un peu chaleureux", rather it is "not very warm". Think of it as having "little warmth".

[ian116730]

I tried 'but with little warmth'and was wrong, go figure

[ian116730]

I also tried a little cold 'also wrong' must be me .

[georgeoftruth]

Yes, it would.

[Anneduol1ngo]

thanks.

[patfinegan]

I wrote "The apartment was comfortable but a bit warm". DL corrected it as "The apartment was comfortable but little warm", omitting the article "a" and demanding "little" instead of "bit." Go figure.

[brucia]

Here is my answer: The apartment was comfortable but a bit warm. The translation is in the negative, which does not appear in the French sentence. The suggested solution was the apartment was comfortable but ONLY a little warm. Where is only!?! I actually think their computer is the problem and this is right, but I have reported my errors and have received no reply. I think this app is just getting to big.

[georgeoftruth]

You have the opposite meaning. The appearance of the article "un" actually reverses the meaning.

• mais un peu chaleureux = but a bit warm → actually too warm for you
• mais peu chaleureux = not warm at all → only a little warm, more cold than warm

This is a tricky grammar point, and it's not something you would hear everyday. Perhaps the choice of translation "only a little warm" is not precise enough.

I have reported my errors and have received no reply.

This is typical because we're a team of five volunteers and there are millions of French learners. We do a lot of error clearing in bulk. If your report is ever incorrect, you will not receive a reply. If your report is correct, you may get an email about it.

[Brian32083]

Hey George, you guys(and girls) are amazing!!! Keep up the good work.
I cannot believe how much work y'all put into this French program. It is very well structured and it seems to me that the Moderators answer questions promptly.
I still cannot believe this program is FREE!
Realize that many of us appreciate you even if you do not hear from us!
Thanks again.

[Daniel589120]

"The apartment was comfortable but not warm at all." was also not accepted.

[MaryAnne993219]

This is a very surprising answer. I hope we get to drill on this phrase because I am not going to remember it without practice.

[Daniel589120]

The new audio voice is missing the word "mais", you can hear it on slow however.

[JBOXY]

The construction peu chaleureux seems to be the same as peu profond, which means not very deep, or shallow. Anyone agree with this?

[Tony372184]

Why not, The apartment was comfortable but not warm. ?