In case you didn't know what a porte cochere was...

While looking at large 4000+sqft. homes last week, my client yells out to me as I am pulling up in my car, "See, this one is nice, especially the porte cochere!"

I reply, "I didn't hear you."

"I really like the porte cochere. The other home didn't have one." he repeats.

I could've faked it by saying, "Oh, wow! I didn't notice that until you mentioned it!" But, I didn't. I showed my ignorance by inquiring, "What's that?"

He politely showed me what it was. Want to see a picture of one from Wikipedia: Picture of a porte cochere

Another day, another thing learned...

Porte cochere - The thing that a car drives under to let people out so they can avoid the elements.

Mirriam-Webster Online Dictionary provides the definition: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/porte cochere

Pronunciation courtesy of Mirriam Webster's Dictionary: Porte cochere

Reference:

"porte cochere." Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 2008.

Merriam-Webster Online. 8 August 2008
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/porte cochere