What (probably) happened
Short answer: almost certainly coincidence. French supermarket aisles are tight, lunch hour is chaotic, and people carry mountains of stuff because baskets are apparently optional cardio. Also, buying lubrifiant intime is completely normal and sold alongside personal-care items; nothing scandalous there. (If you’re curious about the word lubrifiant itself, Larousse treats it like any other product name; lubrifiant intime = intimate lubricant. (Larousse))
Meanwhile, framboises (raspberries) come in those delicate little barquettes that leap to the floor at the first sneeze. (Yes, framboise is just raspberry. Dictionary nerds, enjoy Larousse/Le Robert. (Larousse))
If it was flirting, how would you know?
Look for one or more of these:
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Eye contact that returns (twice), plus a smile that lingers.
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A light joke to keep the moment going (“On dirait que les framboises sont pressées de s’échapper !”).
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A question that opens the door (“Vous conseillez cette sauce aux olives ?”).
If it’s a quick “Merci, au revoir !” with velocity toward the checkout…that’s your answer.
What to say in the moment (safe, friendly, French)
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“Pardon / Excusez-moi.” (Oops/Excuse me.)
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“Vous avez fait tomber vos framboises.” (You dropped your raspberries.)
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“Tout va bien ? Je peux vous aider ?” (All good? Can I help?)
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If you felt a vibe: “Ça vous dit de continuer cette conversation au café, un de ces jours ?” (Shall we continue this conversation over coffee sometime?)
Handy shopping-aisle phrases: “Où puis-je trouver… ?”, “Pouvez-vous m’aider à trouver… ?”, “Je cherche…” are polite and normal in stores. (Your Native Teacher)
Tiny culture note (with maximum kindness)
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Bonjour first. Always open with it—even before “excuse me.”
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Space is smaller. A gentle brush in an aisle is not loaded with meaning.
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Intimate-care aisle ≠ secret code. It’s everyday life (like toothpaste), and magazines won’t fall from the sky if you make eye contact. For vocabulary only: lubrifiant intime is the common term. (universpharmacie.fr)
Step-by-step: How to handle a repeat of this scene
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Pause & smile. “Pardon.”
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Help first. Hand back the barquette: “Tenez.”
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Check in. “Tout va bien ?”
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Add a light joke (optional): “Mission sauvetage framboises: réussie.”
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Exit gracefully with “Bonne journée !” — or, if there’s a spark, add:
“Si ça vous dit, on pourrait prendre un café un de ces jours.”
Mini vocab (pocket edition)
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une framboise / une barquette — raspberry / a punnet (Larousse)
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bousculer / faire tomber — to bump / to drop
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un lubrifiant (intime) — (intimate) lubricant (Larousse)
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le rayon hygiène intime — the intimate-care aisle
Practice corner (A1 → Advanced)
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A1: Copy-say 5 lines aloud: Pardon. / Excusez-moi. / Vous avez fait tomber… / Je peux vous aider ? / Bonne journée !
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A2: Write a 3-line dialogue for this aisle moment. Use vous.
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B1: Role-play with a friend: one is the “raspberry rescuer,” one is the shopper. Swap. Add one friendly joke.
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B2: Describe how flirting differs in your country vs. France (use plutôt, souvent, parfois, selon).
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Advanced: Tell a short anecdote using sous-entendu (implication), quiproquo (mix-up), and consentement (consent) naturally in context.
Verdict?
My vote: awkward coincidence with a charming rescue. Next time I’ll deliver the line, “Mission sauvetage framboises accomplie,” and see if the smile boomerangs back.
Your turn
Ever had a “was that flirting?” moment in France (or anywhere)? Drop your mini-story or your best aisle one-liner below—bonus points if you tailor it for A1, A2, B1, B2, or Advanced learners.