Literal translation
to go softly-softly
Meaning
to go slowly, gently
Explanation
The adverb plan-plan is formed by doubling plan, meaning soft, gentle, calm, a common Provençal device for intensifying or softening an idea through repetition. Ana plan-plan means going slowly, without haste, taking one's time, with a note of calm and sometimes deliberate easygoingness, well beyond mere forced slowness. The expression applies just as well to walking as to running an affair, a job, or a project unhurriedly, avoiding needless agitation. It carries a positive value in Provençal culture, where measure and moderation are readily preferred over haste, often seen as counterproductive or a sign of misplaced nervousness. The register is familiar and warm, used both as advice, to tell someone not to rush, and as a description of a leisurely pace or way of life. It ranks among the simplest and most frequent expressions of everyday conversation.