What Is the French Word for Friend
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Introduction [edit | edit source]
This list contains French words with their English translations. The words included here are those you are likely to find in genealogical sources. If the word you are looking for is not on this list, please consult a French-English dictionary. (See the "Additional Resources" section below.)
The French language is a Romance language derived from Latin. Although English is a Germanic language, it has many words of Latin and French derivation. Thus, many French words are similar to words in English but often have different meanings.
French is spoken in France; Quebec and other areas of Canada; Luxembourg; southern Belgium; southwestern Switzerland; northern and central Africa; some islands in the Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean, and Caribbean Sea; southeast Asia; and other areas formerly colonized or influenced by the French.
Between about 1800 and 1812, French was also used in records of the Rhineland area of Germany, northern Belgium, and the Netherlands. In addition, French is found in some early records of Louisiana and a few other places in the United States. Since about 1680, the grammar, if not the spelling, of official written French has been fairly well standardized throughout the world, even though there are many different forms of spoken French.
Language Characteristics [edit | edit source]
French words for persons, places, and things (nouns) are classified as masculine or feminine. Generally, adjectives used to describe feminine words end with e.
"Le" (masculine form of "the") is used with masculine words. "La" (feminine form of "the") is used with feminine words. But "l'" is used with either if the word begins with a vowel. For example, the word "enfant" means "child" or "infant," either masculine or feminine. But "l'enfant est né" ("the child is born") is used with a male child, and "l'enfant est née" with a female child.
Variant Forms of Words
In French, as in English, the forms of some words will vary according to how they are used in a sentence. Who/whose/whom or marry/marries/married are examples of words in English with variant forms. This word list gives the standard form of each French word. As you read French records, you will need to be aware that some words vary with usage.
Plural forms of French words are usually created by adding -s or -x to the singular word. Thus "frère" becomes "frères," and "beau" becomes "beaux." The plural of "beau-frère" ("brother-in-law") is "beaux-frères" ("brothers-in-law").
In French there are five diacritical (accent) marks. These are placed over vowels or under the letter -c- to indicate a change in pronunciation. The following diacritical marks are used in French: à, â, é, è, ê, ë, î, ï, ô, ö, û, ù and ç. The -ç- is pronounced as an -s-. These diacritical marks do not affect alphabetical order.
Spelling
Spelling rules were not fixed in earlier centuries. In French the following spelling variations are common:
Variation Example [edit | edit source]
-bv- used for -v-: "février" spelled "febvrier"
-c- used for -ss-: "aussi" spelled "auci"
-ct- used for -t-: "faites" spelled "faictes"
-es- used for -é-: "témoins" spelled "tesmoins"
-i- used for -j-: "jour" spelled "iour"
-o- used for -ou-: "tournier" spelled "tornier"
-os- used for -ô-: "nôtre" spelled "nostre"
-sç- used for -s-: "savoir" spelled "sçavoir"
-t- used for -tt-: "cette" spelled "cete"
-y- used for -i-: "hier" spelled "hyer"
-y- used for -ill-: "filleul" spelled "fyeul"
-z- used for -s-: "baptisé" spelled "baptizé"
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Additional French Language Resources [edit | edit source]
This word list includes only words most commonly found in genealogical sources. For further help, consult a French-English dictionary. You can obtain a French-English dictionary at most public libraries and through many bookstores.
Several French-English dictionaries are available at the Family History Library. These are in the European collection. Their call numbers begin with 443.21.
The following dictionary is available on microfilm for use in Family History Centers:
A. Spiers. The Standard Pronouncing Dictionary of the French and English Languages. New York, NY, USA: Appleton, 1900. (Family History Library book 443.21 Sp44s, film 1181694 item 4.)
Additional dictionaries are listed in the Subject search of the FamilySearch Catalog under FRENCH LANGUAGE—DICTIONARIES.
A helpful guide for reading genealogical records written in French is:
French Records Extraction. Salt Lake City, Utah, USA: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, n.d. (Family History Library fiche 6068523.) In addition to being a glossary of names and genealogical words, this guide includes examples of French documents and instructions in reading the handwriting.
- BYU Script French Tutorials
Key Words [edit | edit source]
To find and use specific types of French records, you will need to know some key words in French. This section gives key genealogical terms in English and the French words with the same or similar meanings.
For example, in the first column you will find the English word marriage. In the second column you will find French words with meanings such as marry, marriage, wedding, wedlock, unite, legitimate, joined, and other words used in French records to indicate marriage.
| English | French |
| banns | publications bans |
| baptism | baptême |
| birth | naissance, né, née |
| burial | sépulture, enterrement, enterré, inhumé, enseveli, funèbre |
| Catholic (Roman) | catholique romaine |
| child | enfant |
| christening | baptême |
| civil registry | registres de l'état civil, mairie, maison communale, hôtel de ville |
| death | décès, mort, expiré, inanimé, défunt |
| father | père |
| husband | mari, époux, marié |
| index | index, tables répertoire |
| Jewish | juif, juive, israélite, hébreu |
| marriage | mariage, alliance, unir, épouser |
| month | mois, mensuel |
| mother | mère |
| name, given | prénom, nom de baptême |
| name, surname | nom, nom de famille |
| parents | parents, père et mère |
| parish | paroisse, paroissiaux, paroissiale |
| Protestant | protestant, réformé, huguenot, R.P.R., luthérien, calviniste |
| town, village | ville, village, hameau, commune |
| wife | femme, épouse, mariée |
| year | an, année, annuel |
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General Word List [edit | edit source]
This general word list includes words commonly seen in genealogical sources. Numbers, months, and days of the week are listed both here and in separate sections that follow this list. Words with the same spelling and meaning in English and French, such as "confirmation" or "date," are not included in this list.
In this list, optional versions of French words or variable endings are given in parentheses. A few phrases are listed under the key word, not necessarily the first word. Words in parentheses in the English column clarify the definition. Feminine or masculine meanings of French words are indicated by (f.) or (m.).
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A [edit | edit source]
| French | English |
| à | at, to, in |
| a | has |
| abjurations | renunciations of Protestant faith |
| absolution | absolution, last rites |
| accoucher | give birth |
| accoucheuse | midwife |
| à cet endroit | in this place |
| acheter | to buy |
| acte de baptême | baptismal record |
| acte de décès | death record |
| acte de naissance | birth certificate, record |
| acte de sépulture | burial record |
| adjoint du maire | mayor's assistant |
| adopté(e) | adopted |
| adultère | adulterer |
| affiché | posted (on door) |
| afficher les bans | post banns |
| âgé(e) | aged |
| ai (ay) | (I) have |
| aïeul | grandfather |
| aïeule | grandmother |
| aîné (l'aîné) | the older, senior |
| ainsi que | as well as |
| à jour | current |
| Algérie | Algeria |
| alité | bedridden |
| allemand(e) | German |
| Allemagne | Germany |
| alliance | marriage |
| alsacien(ne) | Alsatian |
| ami(e) | friend |
| an (année) | year |
| anabaptiste | Mennonite |
| anglais(e) | English |
| anniversaire | anniversary |
| annuaire | directory |
| annuel | annual, yearly |
| août | August |
| apparu | appeared |
| appelé(e) | named |
| apprenti | apprentice |
| approuvé | approved |
| après | after |
| après-midi | afternoon |
| arbre généalogique | family tree, pedigree |
| archives | archive |
| Archives du Royaume | state archives (Belgium) |
| Archives Nationales | state archives (France) |
| a reçu | has received |
| armoiries | coat of arms |
| arpent | acre |
| arpenteur | surveyor |
| arpète | errand boy, apprentice |
| arrière | great (as in great-grandparents) |
| arrondissement | district (administrative division of a French département) |
| attaque | seizure |
| au | at the, in the |
| aubergiste | innkeeper |
| aucun(e) | no, none |
| au dessus | over |
| aujourd'hui | today |
| au même endroit | at the same place |
| auparavant | former |
| aussi | also, as, since |
| autant | as much |
| autorisation | permission |
| autour | around |
| autre | other |
| avant | former, before |
| avant-hier | the day before yesterday |
| avec | with |
| avocat | attorney |
| avoir | to have |
| avons | (we) have |
| avril | April |
| ayant | having |
| Words starting with: | A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V |
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B [edit | edit source]
| ban (le) | the territory |
| bans | marriage banns, announcement(s) |
| baptême | baptism |
| baptême d'urgence | emergency baptism |
| baptisé | baptized |
| baptisé sous condition | conditionally baptized |
| Baptiste | Baptist |
| bas | low, lower |
| batisseur | builder |
| beau-fils | son-in-law, stepson |
| beau-frère | brother-in-law, stepbrother |
| beau-père | father-in-law, stepfather |
| bêcheur | field worker |
| belge | Belgian |
| belle-fille | daughter-in-law, stepdaughter |
| belle-mère | mother-in-law, stepmother |
| belle-sœur | sister-in-law, stepsister |
| berger | shepherd |
| bien | well |
| biens | goods, property |
| biographie | biography |
| blanc (blanche) | white |
| bon (bonne) | good |
| bonne | maid, female servant |
| boucher | butcher |
| boulanger | baker |
| bourgeois | citizen, member of the middle class |
| bourguignon | Burgundian |
| bouvier | herdsman, cowherd |
| brasseur | brewer |
| brassier | farmworker, laborer (old word) |
| Bretagne [oncle à la mode de Bretagne] | Brittany [first cousin of one's parent] |
| briquetier | brick maker |
| bru | daughter-in-law |
| bureau | office |
| Words starting with: | A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V |
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C [edit | edit source]
| cabaretier | barkeeper |
| canton | administrative division of an arrondissement (in France), province (in Switzerland), township (in French Canada) |
| carte | map |
| catholique romaine | Roman Catholic |
| ce, c' | it |
| ce, cet, cette | this, that |
| céans | here within |
| cejourd'hier | yesterday |
| cejourd'hui | today |
| célèbre | famous |
| célibataire | bachelor, unmarried, single |
| celle | this one, she |
| celle-ci | the latter (f.) |
| celle-là | the former (f.) |
| celui | this one, he |
| celui-ci | the latter (m.) |
| celui-là | the former (m.) |
| cent | hundred |
| centième | hundredth |
| certificat | certificate |
| ceux | those |
| charbonnier | charcoal burner |
| charcutier | pork merchant |
| charretier | cart or carriage man |
| charron | cartwright, wheelwright |
| chasseur | hunter |
| château | castle |
| châtelain | owner of a castle |
| chaudronnier | cooper, barrel maker |
| chez | at the home of |
| chirurgien | surgeon |
| ci-dessous | below here |
| ci-dessus | above here |
| cimetière | cemetery |
| cinq | five |
| cinquante | fifty |
| cinquantième | fiftieth |
| cinquième | fifth |
| citoyen(ne) | citizen |
| clergé | clergymen |
| colline | hill |
| communauté | community (of goods), religious community |
| commune | town, commune (smallest political division in France) |
| communion | communion |
| compagnon | journeyman, partner |
| comparu | appeared |
| comprend | includes |
| comte | count |
| concubine | concubine |
| congestion cérébrale | stroke |
| conjoint | spouse, assistant |
| connaissance | acquaintance |
| conseil d'état civil | civil registrar's |
| conseiller | councilor |
| consentement | consent |
| contenu | content |
| contractant | the groom (in a marriage record) |
| contractante | the bride (in a marriage record) |
| contrat de mariage | marriage contract |
| contre | against |
| coqueluche | whooping cough |
| cordier | rope maker |
| cordonnier | shoemaker |
| côte | hill |
| couches [morte en couches] | bed, marital bed [died in childbirth] |
| coup de sang | paralytic stroke |
| cour | court |
| courant | current |
| cousin(e) | cousin |
| cousin(e) germain(e) | first cousin |
| couvreur | roofer |
| culte | religion |
| cultivateur | farmer, cultivator |
| curateur | guardian |
| curé | parish minister, pastor, priest, clergyman |
| Words starting with: | A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V |
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D [edit | edit source]
| d' | of |
| dame | lady |
| dans | in |
| de | of, from, out |
| décapité | decapitated |
| décédé | the deceased |
| décembre | December |
| décennal(e) | decennial |
| décennie | decade |
| décès | death, deaths |
| déclarant | informant |
| déclaré | declared, stated |
| décrépitude | old age |
| défunt(e) | deceased |
| dehors | outside |
| de la | of the, some |
| demain | tomorrow |
| demeurant | living at |
| demi | half |
| demi frère | stepbrother, half brother |
| demi soeur | stepsister, half sister |
| demoiselle | Miss (of well-to-do parents, may be a married woman) |
| département | department (French "county" since 1790) |
| depuis | since |
| derniers sacrements | last rites |
| des | of the, some |
| desdits | of the said (pl.) |
| dessous | lower, below |
| dessus | above |
| deux | two |
| deuxième | second |
| devant | in front of |
| devenir | to become |
| devoir | should |
| d'hier | yesterday's |
| dictionnaire | dictionary |
| dictionnaire des communes | gazetteer |
| dimanche | Sunday |
| dîme | tithing |
| diocèse | diocese |
| dispense | exemption, dispensation |
| dit(e) (ditte) | said, also known as, aforementioned |
| divers(e) | various |
| divorcé(e) | divorced |
| dix | ten |
| dix-huit | eighteen |
| dix-huitième | eighteenth |
| dixième | tenth |
| dix-neuf | nineteen |
| dix-neuvième | nineteenth |
| dix-sept | seventeen |
| dix-septième | seventeenth |
| domaine | estate |
| domestique | servant girl, maid |
| domicile | home, residence, domicile |
| donné | given |
| donner | to give |
| dons | donations |
| dont | of whom, of which |
| double | duplicate record |
| douze | twelve |
| douzième | twelfth |
| droguiste | druggist |
| droit(e) | right |
| du | of the, some |
| duc | duke |
| duché | duchy |
| duchesse | duchess |
| durant | during |
| Words starting with: | A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V |
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E [edit | edit source]
| eaux-et-forêts | waters and forests, forestry service |
| ébéniste | cabinetmaker, furniture maker |
| échevin | alderman, municipal magistrate |
| école | school |
| écrire | to write |
| écrit | written, document |
| écrivain | scribe, writer |
| église | church |
| elle | she, her |
| elles | they, them (f.) |
| émigrant(e) | emigrant |
| émigré(e) | emigrant |
| empêchement | prevention |
| employé(e) | clerk |
| en | in |
| enceinte | pregnant |
| encore | again |
| endroit | place |
| enfant | baby, child |
| enfant exposé | foundling |
| enfant trouvé | foundling |
| enflement | swelling |
| ensemble | together |
| entend | intends, hears |
| enterré(e) | buried |
| enterrement | burial, interment |
| entre | between, among |
| environ | about, approximately |
| épicier | grocer, spice merchant |
| épousailles | wedding |
| épouse | bride, wife |
| époux | bridegroom, husband |
| espagnol(e) | Spanish |
| est | is, east |
| et | and |
| étaient | were |
| était | was |
| étant (estant) | being |
| état | state |
| état | civil civil registration |
| été | been, summer |
| étranger/étrangère | foreign, foreigner, strange |
| être [un être] | to be [a being] |
| évéché | diocese |
| évêque | bishop |
| exécuté | performed |
| expédié(s) | sent |
| extérieur | outside |
| extrait | extract |
| Words starting with: | A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V |
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F [edit | edit source]
| fabricant de bas | maker of stockings |
| fabricant de savon | maker of soap |
| facteur | postman, mailman |
| facture | account, bill |
| faiblesse | weakness |
| fait(e) | made, done |
| famille | family, relative(s) |
| féminin(e) | female |
| femme | wife, woman |
| ferblantier | tin man, tinsmith |
| fermier | farmer |
| fête | holiday, feast |
| feu(e) | deceased, the late |
| feuille | folio, leaf, page |
| février | February |
| fiançailles | engagement |
| fiançé | betrothed, engaged, fiancé (m.) |
| fiançée | betrothed, engaged, fiancée (f.) |
| fiancer | to become engaged |
| fichier | card index |
| fièvre | fever |
| fileuse | spinster |
| fille | daughter, girl |
| fille de mauvaise vie | prostitute |
| fils | son |
| fonction [faisant les fonctions] | duty, occupation, function [doing the functions (occupation), serving as] |
| fonts | (baptismal) font |
| forestier | forester |
| forêt | forest |
| forgeron | smith |
| forteresse | fortress |
| frais | fee |
| français(e) | French |
| franc-tenancier | freeholder, yeoman |
| frère | brother |
| frère consanguin | brother by the same father but different mother |
| frère germain | brother by the same mother and father |
| frère utérin | brother by the same mother but different father |
| fromager | cheese merchant or maker |
| frontière | border |
| funèbre | funeral |
| furent | were |
| fut | was |
| futur, fiancé | the intended groom |
| future, fiancée | the intended bride |
| Words starting with: | A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V |
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G [edit | edit source]
| garçon | boy, unmarried young man |
| garde champêtre | field guard |
| garde | forestier forest guard |
| gardien | herdsman |
| gauche | left |
| gendarme | policeman |
| gendre | son-in-law |
| généalogique | genealogical |
| géomètre | surveyor |
| germinal | See "Months" |
| goutte | gout |
| grand(e) | large, great, tall |
| grandmère | grandmother |
| grandparents | grandparents |
| grandpère | grandfather |
| greffier | clerk of the court, registrar |
| Words starting with: | A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V |
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H [edit | edit source]
| habitant | residing |
| habitation | residence |
| habiter | to inhabit |
| haut | high, upper |
| hectare | acre |
| héraldique | heraldry |
| héritage | inheritance |
| heure | hour, time |
| hier | yesterday |
| histoire | story, history |
| hollandais(e) | Dutch |
| homme | man |
| homme de main | day worker |
| honnête | honest |
| horloger | clock merchant or maker |
| houilleur | coal miner |
| huguenot(te) | Huguenot |
| huissier | usher, doorman |
| huit | eight |
| huitante | eighty |
| huitantième | eightieth |
| huitième | eighth |
| hydropisie | dropsy, edema |
| Words starting with: | A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V |
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I [edit | edit source]
| icelle | this one (f.) |
| icelui | this one (m.) |
| ici | here |
| id. (Latin) | the same |
| identique | same, alike, similar |
| il | he |
| illégitime | illegitimate |
| immigrant(e) | immigrant |
| imposé | imposed, gave |
| impôts | taxation |
| inconnu(e) | unknown |
| inférieur(e) | lower |
| instituteur | schoolteacher (m.) |
| institutrice | schoolteacher (f.) |
| intérieur | inside |
| inventaire | après décès inventory after death |
| italien(ne) | Italiann |
| Words starting with: | A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V |
|---|
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J [edit | edit source]
| jamais | never |
| janvier | January |
| jardinier | gardener |
| je | I |
| jeudi | Thursday |
| jeune | young, the younger, junior |
| jeûne | fasting, fast day |
| jour | day |
| jour de baptême | day of baptism |
| jour d'hier, le | yesterday |
| journalier | day laborer, farmworker |
| jour | suivant the following day |
| juge | judge |
| Juif | Jewish, Jew |
| juillet | July |
| juin | June |
| Juive | Jewish, Jewess |
| jumeaux | twins (male, or male and female) |
| jumelles | twins (female) |
| juré | juryman |
| Words starting with: | A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V |
|---|
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K [edit | edit source]
| Words starting with: | A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V |
|---|
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L [edit | edit source]
| l' | the (m. and f.) |
| la | the (f.) |
| là | there |
| laboureur | plowman, farmer (man with team and plow) |
| lac | lake |
| laisser | let, leave, allow |
| laquelle | which (f.) |
| le | the (m.) |
| lecture | reading |
| légal(e) | legal |
| légitime | legitimate |
| lendemain | following day |
| lequel | which (m.) |
| les | the (plural) |
| lesquels | which (plural) |
| leur | their, to them |
| lieu | place |
| livre | book |
| livret de famille | family register |
| loi | law |
| lui | him, to him |
| lundi | Monday |
| luxembourgeois(e) | Luxembourger |
| Words starting with: | A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V |
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M [edit | edit source]
| M. | sir, Mr. |
| maçon | mason, bricklayer |
| Madame | Mrs. |
| Mademoiselle | unmarried woman, Miss |
| magister | village schoolmaster |
| mai | May |
| maire | mayor |
| mairie | town hall |
| mais | but |
| maison [maison communale] | house [town hall] |
| maître | master |
| maître | d'école schoolteacher |
| majeur | of legal age, older |
| majorité | legal age, majority |
| maladie | disease, sickness |
| maraîcher | market gardener |
| marchand | merchant |
| marchant | trader, merchant |
| marché | market |
| mardi | Tuesday |
| maréchal ferrant | blacksmith |
| mari | husband |
| mariage | marriage, wedding |
| marié | groom, husband, married (m.) |
| mariée | bride, wife, married (f.) |
| marier (se marier) | to get married |
| mariés | the married ones |
| marin | sailor |
| marocain(e) | Moroccan |
| marraine | godmother |
| mars | March |
| masculin | male, masculine |
| matin | early (a.m.), morning |
| mégisseur | tanner |
| membre | member |
| même | the same, even |
| mendiant | beggar |
| menuisier | joiner, carpenter |
| mercredi | Wednesday |
| mère | mother |
| mériter | to be worthy |
| messe | Catholic mass |
| métayer | dairy keeper, cowherd, sharecropper |
| métier | trade, occupation, profession |
| métis, métisse | mixed blood |
| meunier | miller |
| midi | noon |
| mil | thousand |
| militaire | military |
| mille | thousand |
| millième | thousandth |
| mineur | under legal age, younger, minor |
| minorité | under legal age, minority |
| minuit | midnight |
| mis(e) en terre | buried |
| Mlle., Mademoiselle | Miss |
| Mme., Madame | Mrs. |
| moi | me |
| mois | month |
| Monsieur | sir, Mr. |
| montagne | hill, mountain |
| mort(e) | dead, death |
| mort | né stillborn |
| moulin | mill |
| mourant | dying |
| mourir | to die |
| moyen(ne) | middle, median, central |
| mulâtre | mulatto |
| muni des sacrements de l'Eglise | furnished with the (last) rites of the church |
| Words starting with: | A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V |
|---|
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N [edit | edit source]
| naissance | birth |
| naturel | illegitimate (not always true) |
| né(e) | born |
| née | maiden name |
| négociant | trader, businessman |
| neuf | nine |
| neuvième | ninth |
| neveu | nephew |
| ni | neither, nor |
| nièce | niece |
| noble | nobleman |
| noblesse | nobility |
| noces | wedding |
| noir(e) | black |
| nom | name, surname |
| nom | de famille surname, last name |
| nommé(e) | named, alias |
| non | not |
| nonante | ninety |
| nonantième | ninetieth |
| nord | north |
| norman(de) | Norman |
| notaire | notary |
| notes | remarks |
| nôtre (nostre) | our |
| nous | we, us |
| nouveau, nouvelle | new |
| novembre | November |
| noyé(e) | drowned |
| nuit | night |
| numéro | number |
| nuptial(e) | bridal, pertaining to a wedding |
| Words starting with: | A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V |
|---|
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O [edit | edit source]
| obsèques | funeral, burial |
| octante | eighty |
| octantième | eightieth |
| octobre | October |
| oncle | uncle |
| ondoyé(e) | baptized provisionally |
| ont | (they) have |
| onze | eleven |
| onzième | eleventh |
| orphelin(e) | orphan |
| ou | or |
| où | where |
| ouest | west |
| Words starting with: | A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V |
|---|
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P [edit | edit source]
| Palatinat | Palatinate, Pfalz |
| par | by |
| pareil(le) | same, alike, similar |
| parent | parent, relative |
| paroisse | parish (office) |
| parrain | godfather |
| part [d'une part] [et d'autre part] | portion, part [on the one hand] [and on the other hand] |
| pas | not |
| pas encore | not yet |
| passé | past |
| pasteur | pastor |
| pâtissier | pastry maker |
| pâtre | herdsman |
| pauvre | indigent, poor |
| pays | land, country |
| paysan(ne) | small farmer, peasant |
| pêcheur | fisher |
| peintre | painter |
| penultième | day before the last |
| percer des dents | teething |
| père | father |
| petit | small, little |
| petite-fille | granddaughter |
| petite | noblesse gentry |
| petit-fils | grandson |
| petit propriétaire | yeoman |
| peuple | citizens |
| peut-être | maybe, perhaps |
| pharmacien | pharmacist |
| pièces | documents |
| pied terrier | land record |
| place | square, plaza |
| plus, en | besides, in addition to |
| plus âgé(e) | older, elder, oldest, eldest |
| plus vieux | older, elder, oldest, eldest |
| policier | policeman |
| pont | bridge |
| population | population |
| porte | door |
| portugais(e) | Portuguese |
| poser | place, put |
| pour | for |
| pourquoi | why |
| précédent(e) | previous, preceding |
| préfet | prefect (the head of a département in France) |
| premier, première | first |
| prénom | given (first) name |
| près | de next to |
| présenté | presented |
| prêtre | clergyman, priest |
| preuve | proof |
| principalité | principality |
| prochain(e) | following, next, nearest |
| proche | parent close relative |
| professeur | professor, teacher |
| propos de, à | about, concerning |
| propriétaire | owner, proprietor |
| protestant | Protestant |
| provincial(e) | provincial |
| prussien(ne) | Prussian |
| publié | published, announced |
| publier | publish |
| Words starting with: | A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V |
|---|
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Q [edit | edit source]
| quand | when |
| quarante | forty |
| quarantième | fortieth |
| quartier | district or neighborhood in a city |
| quatorze | fourteen |
| quatorzième | fourteenth |
| quatre | four |
| quatre-vingt-dix | ninety |
| quatre-vingt-dixième | ninetieth |
| quatre-vingt | eighty |
| quatre-vingtième | eightieth |
| quatrième | fourth |
| que (qu') | what, which, that |
| qui | who, whom |
| quinze | fifteen |
| quinzième | fifteenth |
| quoi | what |
| Words starting with: | A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V |
|---|
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R [edit | edit source]
| recensement | census |
| recherche | research |
| reconnu | recognized, acknowledged |
| reçu(e) | received |
| réformé(e) | Reformed/Calvinist |
| régisseur | farm manager, steward |
| registre | register |
| registres d'état civil | registers of births, civil marriages, and deaths |
| registres paroissiaux | parish registers |
| reine | queen |
| religion | religion |
| religion prétendue réformé (R.P.R.) | Reformed Church, Huguenot |
| rentier(e) | retired person living from rents, landlord |
| répertoire | register, index |
| répertoire toponymique | gazetteer |
| République Française | French Republic |
| retraité | formerly employed, retired |
| revue | periodical |
| rien | nothing |
| rivière | stream, river |
| roi (roy) | king |
| rouge | red |
| rougeole | measles |
| royaume | kingdom |
| rue | street |
| russe | Russian |
| Words starting with: | A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V |
|---|
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S [edit | edit source]
| sa | his, her, its |
| sabotier | wooden-shoe maker |
| sacristain | sacristan, sexton |
| sage-femme | midwife |
| saignement | bleeding |
| sain | sane, healthy |
| saints sacrements (d'absolution) | last rites |
| samedi | Saturday |
| sans | without |
| sans vie | without life, lifeless |
| savoir | to know, namely |
| savonnier | soap merchant, soapmaker |
| saxon | Saxon |
| scarlatine | scarlet fever |
| sceau | seal |
| scieur | sawyer |
| Seigneur | the Lord |
| seize | sixteen |
| seizième | sixteenth |
| selon | according to |
| semaine | week |
| sénilité | old age |
| sept | seven |
| septante | seventy |
| septantième | seventieth |
| septembre | September |
| septième | seventh |
| sépulture | burial |
| seront | (they) will be |
| serrurier | locksmith |
| servante | maid, servant girl |
| ses | his, her, its |
| seul(e) | single, alone |
| seulement | only |
| sexe | sex |
| siècle | century |
| signature | signature |
| signé | signed |
| six | six |
| sixième | sixth |
| société | society |
| soeur | sister |
| soeur consanguine | sister by the same father but different mother |
| soeur germaine | sister by the same mother and father |
| soeur utérine | sister by the same mother but different father |
| soir (soirée) | evening |
| soixante | sixty |
| soixante-dix | seventy |
| soixante-dixième | seventieth |
| soixantième | sixtieth |
| soldat | soldier |
| son | his, her, its |
| sont | are |
| sous | under, low |
| soussigné | the undersigned |
| souvent | often |
| statut légal | status, condition |
| statut personnel | status, condition |
| sud | south |
| suisse | Swiss |
| suivant(e) | next, following, according to |
| supérieur(e) | upper |
| sur | on, above, upon, at |
| surlendemain | two days later |
| survivant | surviving |
| sus-dit | aforementioned |
| susnommé | aforementioned |
| Words starting with: | A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V |
|---|
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T [edit | edit source]
| table | index |
| tables décennales | ten-year indexes |
| tailleur | cloth maker, draper |
| tailleur de pierre | stonecutter |
| tailleur | d'habits tailor |
| tanneur | tanner |
| tant | as, so much |
| tante | aunt |
| tantôt | afternoon |
| tavernier | tavern owner |
| teinturier | dyer |
| témoin | witness |
| temps | time |
| tenir un enfant sur les fonts | to act as godfather or godmother to a child |
| terre | earth, land |
| terres | estate |
| testament | last will |
| tisserand | weaver |
| tisserand de lin | linen weaver |
| tisseur | weaver |
| tome | volume |
| tonnelier | cooper |
| tôt | early (a.m.) |
| toujours | always |
| tournier | turner, woodworker |
| tous | all |
| tous | les deux both |
| toux | cough |
| travailleur | worker, laborer |
| travers, à | through, across |
| treize | thirteen |
| treizième | thirteenth |
| trente | thirty |
| trente-et-un | thirty-one |
| trente-et-unième | thirty-first |
| trentième | thirtieth |
| tribunal | court |
| trois | three |
| troisième | third |
| tuilier | tile maker |
| tumeurv | tumor |
| tuteur | guardian |
| Words starting with: | A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V |
|---|
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U [edit | edit source]
| un, une | a, an, one |
| unième | first |
| unis en mariage | united in marriage |
| Words starting with: | A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V |
|---|
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V [edit | edit source]
| valet | servant |
| vallée | valley |
| varie | various |
| variole | smallpox |
| veille | previous evening or day |
| vendeur | seller, salesman |
| vendeuse | seller, saleslady |
| vendredi | Friday |
| vérole | venereal disease, syphilis |
| vérole, petite | smallpox |
| verrier | glassmaker |
| vers | toward |
| vert | green |
| veuf | widowed, widower |
| veuve | widowed, widow |
| vie | life |
| vieillesse | old age |
| vierge | virgin, unmarried woman |
| vieux (vielle) | old |
| vieux garçon | bachelor |
| vigneron | grape grower |
| village | hamlet, village |
| ville | village or town, city |
| vingt | twenty |
| vingt-cinq | twenty-five |
| vingt-cinquième | twenty-fifth |
| vingt-deux | twenty-two |
| vingt-deuxième | twenty-second |
| vingt-et-un | twenty-one |
| vingt-et-unième | twenty-first |
| vingt-huit | twenty-eight |
| vingt-huitième | twenty-eighth |
| vingtième | twentieth |
| vingt-neuf | twenty-nine |
| vingt-neuvième | twenty-ninth |
| vingt-quatre | twenty-four |
| vingt-quatrième | twenty-fourth |
| vingt-sept | twenty-seven |
| vingt-septième | twenty-seventh |
| vingt-six | twenty-six |
| vingt-sixième | twenty-sixth |
| vingt-trois | twenty-three |
| vingt-troisième | twenty-third |
| vivant | living, lifetime |
| vivant, de son | during his (her) life |
| vivre | to live |
| voir | see |
| voisin(e) | neighbor |
| vouloir | to wish, to want |
| Words starting with: | A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V |
|---|
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Numbers [edit | edit source]
In some genealogical sources, numbers are written out. This is especially true with dates. The following list gives the cardinal (1, 2, 3) and the ordinal (1st, 2nd, 3rd) versions of each number. Dates are usually written in ordinal form. Ordinal numbers are made by adding ième to the cardinal form of a number. If the number ends in an e, drop the e before adding ième.
From 60 to 99, the French count by twenties rather than by tens. Thus, 70 in French is sixty-ten, and 71 is sixty-eleven. The number 80 is four-twenties; 81 is four-twenties-one; 91 is four-twenties-eleven; and so on through 99, which is four-twenties-nineteen. In some areas, however, you will see the older style of 70 (septante), 80 (octante or huitante), and 90 (nonante).
| Cardinal | Ordinal |
| 1 un | 1st premier |
| 2 deux | 2nd deuxième |
| 3 trois | 3rd troisième |
| 4 quatre | 4th quatrième |
| 5 cinq | 5th cinquième |
| 6 six | 6th sixième |
| 7 sept | 7th septième |
| 8 huit | 8th huitième |
| 9 neuf | 9th neuvième |
| 10 dix | 10th dixième |
| 11 onze | 11th onzième |
| 12 douze | 12th douzième |
| 13 treize | 13th treizième |
| 14 quatorze | 14th quatorzième |
| 15 quinze | 15th quinzième |
| 16 seize | 16th seizième |
| 17 dix-sept | 17th dix-septième |
| 18 dix-huit | 18th dix-huitième |
| 19 dix-neuf | 19th dix-neuvième |
| 20 vingt | 20th vingtième |
| 21 vingt-et-un | 21st vingt-et-unième |
| 22 vingt-deux | 22nd vingt-deuxième |
| 23 vingt-trois | 23rd vingt-troisième |
| 24 vingt-quatre | 24th vingt-quatrième |
| 25 vingt-cinq | 25th vingt-cinquième |
| 26 vingt-six | 26th vingt-sixième |
| 27 vingt-sept | 27th vingt-septième |
| 28 vingt-huit | 28th vingt-huitième |
| 29 vingt-neuf | 29th vingt-neuvième |
| 30 trente | 30th trentième |
| 31 trente-et-un | 31st trente-et-unième |
| 40 quarante | 40th quarantième |
| 50 cinquante | 50th cinquantième |
| 60 soixante | 60th soixantième |
| 70 soixante-dix, septante | 70th soixante-dixième, septantième |
| 71 soixante-onze, septante-un | 71st soixante-onzième, septante-et-unième |
| 80 quatre-vingt(s), octante, huitante | 80th quatre-vingtième, octantième, huitantième |
| 90 quatre-vingt-dix, nonante | 90th quatre-vingt-dixième, nonantième |
| 99 quatre-vingt-dix-neuf, nonante-neuf | 99th quatre-vingt-dix-neuvième, nonante-neuvième |
| 100 cent | 100th centième |
| 1000 mil, mille | 1000th millième |
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Dates and Time [edit | edit source]
In French records, dates are often written out. For example:
Le vingt-trois mars mil sept cent soixante dix-neuf [on the twenty-third day of March, in the year one thousand seven hundred sixty and nineteen (1779)]
To understand French dates, use the following lists as well as the preceding "Numbers" section.
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Months [edit | edit source]
| English | French |
| January | janvier |
| February | février |
| March | mars |
| April | avril |
| May | mai |
| June | juin |
| July | juillet |
| August | août |
| September | septembre, 7bre |
| October | octobre, 8bre |
| November | novembre, 9bre |
| December | décembre, 10bre, Xbre |
During the years 1792 to 1806, the French used a unique calendar that related to the founding of the French Republic. It included the following months:
vendémiaire, brumaire, frimaire,
nivôse, pluviôse, ventôse,
germinal, floréal, prairial,
messidor, thermidor, fructidor.
These month names cannot be translated because they do not correspond to the months we know as January to December. See the French Republican Calendar.
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Days of the Week [edit | edit source]
| English | French |
| Sunday | dimanche |
| Monday | lundi |
| Tuesday | mardi |
| Wednesday | mercredi |
| Thursday | jeudi |
| Friday | vendredi |
| Saturday | samedi |
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Times of the Day [edit | edit source]
In French birth and death records, the registrar often indicated the exact time of day when the birth or death occurred. This is usually written out.
| French | English |
| à cinq heures | at 5 o'clock |
| au matin | in the morning |
| au soir | in the evening |
| après-demain | the day after tomorrow |
| après-midi | afternoon |
| avant-veille | two days before |
| avant-hier | day before yesterday |
| demain | tomorrow |
| du matin | in the morning, a.m. |
| du soir | in the evening, p.m. |
| heure | hour |
| hier | yesterday |
| hier soir | yesterday evening |
| hier au soir | yesterday evening |
| jour | day |
| lendemain | next day |
| matin | morning |
| midi | noon |
| minuit | midnight |
| nuit | night |
| soir | evening |
| surlendemain | two days later |
| veille | previous evening |
France French Genealogical Word List France Paper publication: Second edition 1997. English approval: 4/97.
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What Is the French Word for Friend
Source: https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/French_Genealogical_Word_List
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