“Wait 107 years”: where does this expression come from?
Origin and meaning of a famous French expression
Waiting a few minutes can already seem endless… so waiting 100 years, let's not even go there. But why, in the French language, do we specifically say "attender 107 ans" to evoke an extremely long, even annoying, wait?
This popular expression originates from the history of an iconic monument of French heritage. Let's discover its fascinating origin together.
An expression born from the history of France
The expression "waiting 107 years" is not a coincidence. It directly refers to the construction of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, one of France's most famous monuments, located on the Île de la Cité.
Known for its gargoyles, its impressive Gothic architecture and its central role in Victor Hugo's novel Notre-Dame de Paris, the cathedral is most remarkable for… the exceptional length of its construction.
Notre-Dame de Paris: 107 years of work
The construction of Notre-Dame Cathedral began in 1163, under the impetus of Maurice de
The objective is therefore clear: to build a vast, majestic cathedral capable of accommodating an ever-growing crowd.
The works spanned more than a century and were finally completed in 1270.
- Total duration: 107 years.
Why this duration has left such a mark on people's minds
In a time when life expectancy was much shorter than today, 107 years was an eternity. Several generations came and went without ever seeing the work completed.
It is this interminable wait, almost absurd on a human scale, that gradually gave rise to the expression "waiting 107 years" to refer to:
- an excessively long wait
- a situation that is dragging on
- a delay that severely tests patience
An expression that is still alive
Although its origin dates back to the Middle Ages, "waiting 107 years" remains a living, understood and used expression, proof that the history of Notre-Dame de Paris continues to influence the French language.
It perfectly illustrates how a major historical event can leave a lasting mark on our everyday vocabulary.
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