Introduction to the Untranslatables
As I mentioned earlier, I am immersed in creating a book dedicated to those words that defy direct translation, the wonderful 'untranslatables'. Each week I'll take you behind the scenes to reveal the essence of these unique words.

The heart of France: the Bricoleurs
Today, we’re diving into the heart of France to explore the world of the “bricoleurs,” individuals whose skill and cleverness go beyond simple “do-it-yourself.” Ready to discover how this word captures French ingenuity at its best?

What is a Bricoleur?
Imagine someone who, with a touch of magic and a lot of creativity, transforms ordinary objects into something extraordinary. That is the essence of a “bricoleur” or a “bricoleuse” (feminine form of “bricoleur”). In French, “bricoleur” originally refers to someone skilled in home repairs and small tinkering, a kind of “do-it-yourself” full of ingenuity and dexterity.

Origins and evolution of the term
“Bricoleur” is a masculine noun derived from the verb “bricoler,” meaning “to tinker” or “to tinker with.” This verb, in turn, comes from the word “bricole,” meaning “junk” or “gadget.” According to the Dictionary of the French Language, the word “bricoleur” first appeared in the 19th century.

The Bricoleur mindset
Carefully planning what you are going to do at each moment, step by step, preparing in advance the materials and tools you are going to need to carry out the task at hand... That is not what a "bricoleur" does. "Bricoleurs" are more about improvising and making decisions on the fly, changing their minds and plans without complexes as things arise.

More than just DIY
But did you know that this term is much more than that? The famous French anthropologist Claude Lévi-Strauss expanded the meaning of “bricoleur” in his work “La pensée savage.” Here, “bricoleur” becomes a symbol of the “savage” or primitive mind, which creates and solves problems using what is at hand, as opposed to “civilized” thinking that plans and builds with specific tools and methods.

The bricoleur in different fields
The concept of bricoleur has also been explored in education, information technology, and the visual arts. In education, it is seen as a way of learning and solving problems through experimentation and play, in contrast to a more traditional analytical approach. In the field of information technology, the term bricoleur refers to an approach in which strategic information systems are created in an improvisational and flexible manner.

The bricoleur and art
The bricoleur also has a special place in art, where artists use a diverse set of knowledge to produce works full of imagination and inventiveness, thus being able to fully harness their skill set to create complex and critical works.

Bricoleur in culture and everyday life
“Bricoleur” is a word that reflects the culture and lifestyle of the French, who value ingenuity, creativity and autonomy. It is also a word that has spread to other countries and contexts, where it is used to express admiration, respect or irony towards people who do DIY.

The essence of the bricoleur
The bricoleur is a specialist in combinatorial logic, a craftsman who creates objects by rearranging other objects. This ability to play and explore the possible, to experiment, to learn, to have fun while doing something on our own and at our own risk to deal with current problems, is the mark of a true bricoleur.

And you? Are you up for it? Don't you feel like becoming a "bricoleur" or a "bricoleuse"?

References:

• «Claude Levi Strauss' Concept of Bricolage«, Literary Theory and Criticism​​.
• «Bricolage«, article on Wikipedia​​.
• «Bricoleur«, definition in Wiktionary​​.