French Genealogical
Word List
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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
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
-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
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.
Key Words
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
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
| 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
|
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B
| 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
|
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C
| 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
|
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D
| 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
|
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E
| 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
|
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F
| 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
|
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G
| 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
|
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H
| 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
|
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I
| 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
|
Return to Top of Page
J
| 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
|
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K
Return to Top of Page
L
| 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
|
Return to Top of Page
M
| 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
|
Return to Top of Page
N
| 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
|
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O
| 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
|
Return to Top of Page
P
| 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
|
Return to Top of Page
Q
| 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
|
Return to Top of Page
R
| 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
|
Return to Top of Page
S
| 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
|
Return to Top of Page
T
| 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
|
Return to Top of Page
U
| un, une
|
a, an, one
|
| unième
|
first
|
| unis en mariage
|
united in marriage
|
Return to Top of Page
V
| 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
|
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Numbers
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
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
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
English-French
Sunday=dimanche
Monday=lundi
Tuesday=mardi
Wednesday=mercredi
Thursday=jeudi
Friday=vendredi
Saturday=samedi
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Times of the Day
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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