It seems like half of France is doing this at the moment, but if you're joining the lucky hoards heading off on holiday, here is a word you will need. Applying specifically for those getting away in summer, coming from the adjective 'estival' or 'summery', you are an 'estivant' (for men) or an 'estivante' (for woman) if you're heading on holiday this season. The opposite of an hivernant/hivernante, which apply to winter travellers, these are words that are appropriate in France. Also deriving from the word hiver (winter) the treve hivernale refers to the winter period when landlords are legally forbidden from evicting their tenants, even if they are in rent arrears. For French people themselves, August is the big holiday month during les grandes vacances, which applied specifically to a break over the holiday months.

Source: The Local July 22, 2019 11:37 UTC