The tête à Toto is a French typographical design and
children's game
This is a list of games that are played by children. Traditional children's games do not include commercial products such as board games but do include games which require props such as hopscotch or marbles (toys go in List of toys unless the t ...
, well known to French schoolchildren. It consists of the equation "0+0=0", written with the first two "0"s for eyes, the "+" for a nose, the "=" for a mouth, and the final "0" surrounding, as a stylized face or skull.
It is drawn while reciting:
As his head equals zero, it means that his intelligence is null.
The name, or character, of Toto is a common stock character in French culture; he is the generic child used in jokes ("Toto asks his mother..."). See
Blague de Toto (Toto joke).
Other uses
*A
circumlocution
Circumlocution (also called circumduction, circumvolution, periphrasis, kenning, or ambage) is the use of an unnecessarily large number of words to express an idea. It is sometimes necessary in communication (for example, to work around lexical ga ...
for "zero"
*In
prostitution
Prostitution is a type of sex work that involves engaging in sexual activity in exchange for payment. The definition of "sexual activity" varies, and is often defined as an activity requiring physical contact (e.g., sexual intercourse, no ...
, slang for a prostitute – or rather, prospective prostitute – who has not had a single client (i.e., who has had zero clients).
See also
*
Henohenomoheji
''Henohenomoheji'' ( ) or ''hehenonomoheji'' () is a face known to be drawn by Japanese schoolchildren using hiragana characters. It became a popular drawing during the Edo period.
Composition
The word breaks down into seven hiragana char ...
, similar typographical face in Japanese
*
Mondgesicht, similar typographical face in German, consisting of "Punkt, Punkt, Komma, Strich":
. . , –
References
External links
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La tête à Toto Zéro plus zéro ? La tête à Toto...
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tete A Toto
Culture of France
Typography
Doodling motifs
fr:Blague de Toto#La tête à Toto