"Avek Plesir" is an expression that came into the Russian language from French without changing its meaning. It can often be found in Russian fiction of the 19th and 20th centuries. It is used to this day both in writing and in speech.
Translation
To understand the meaning of the expression, it is enough to refer to any French-Russian dictionary. The word "avec" (avec) denotes the preposition "with", and "plaisir" (plaisir) - "pleasure". Accordingly, "avek plezir" is translated as "with pleasure".
This expression is one of many that have survived from the time when the entire aristocratic society spoke French in Russia.
The French will pronounce this expression with a hard sound [v] in the first word and a soft [l'] in the second. The letter combination ai would be read after other consonants as [e], but there is no solid sound [l] in French. In Russian, there is a variant of the pronunciation of the expression "avek plezir" and with a hard [l], which is not an error, but is considered a more colloquial version.
Currently, the expression is more often used in an ironicsense.
Instances of use
The closest synonyms to the expression "avek plezir", in addition to "with pleasure", are the words "willingly", "with pleasure", "with joy".
The most common way to say this is to say that they agree to a proposal. Usually it is pronounced because of the desire to emphasize that the person will not be difficult to fulfill the request of the interlocutor: "Could you help me?" "Of course, avek plezir." Or to express gratitude. Example: "Try the cake, please" - "Thank you, avek plezir."
In an ironic sense, the expression is used when they emphatically oppose themselves to "high society". A playful shade is conveyed by intonation. They say this, for example, in order to emphasize the frivolity of the situation or to create a relaxed atmosphere.
Examples
In the famous novel by M. A. Bulgakov "The Master and Margarita", in the chapter about a session of black magic in a variety show, one of the spectators asks Koroviev to play a deck of gold pieces with him. "Avek Pleaser!" - Koroviev responds.
In M. Z Akharov's film "Formula of Love" Fedosya Ivanovna meets a foreign guest. Obviously, knowing only a few words in French, she says: "Sil wu ple, wu pri, avek plezir." These are the three most famous French expressions of politeness: "please, please, with pleasure."
Bin the film "DMB" the ensign in the restaurant says "Trois butey de vodka, avek plesir" (three bottles of vodka, with pleasure). The episode shows that the expression is heard even by those who do not quite understand its meaning.
