France Languages

Most materials used in French research, including former French colonies in Africa, Asia, the Carribean and North America, are written in French. However, you do not need to speak or read French to do research in French records. You merely need to know some key numbers, words, and phrases to understand the records.

Infrequently you may find other languages in French records. These include Latin, German, Italian, Flemish, Basque, and Breton. Latin is sometimes found in Roman Catholic parish registers, but it is unusual to find it in baptism, marriage, and burial records, except in Alsace-Lorraine. German is also frequently found in records from Alsace-Lorraine. Records from Corsica, especially before 1768, may be in Italian. Some records from Savoy and Nice are in Italian, especially before 1792 and from 1815-1859. Breton is spoken in Brittany but is only rarely found in records useful to family historians.

French grammar and customs may affect the way names appear in genealogical records. For example, the names of your ancestor may vary from record to record in French. For help in understanding name variations, see the "Names, Personal" section.

Language Aids
The Family History Library has genealogical word lists for French, German, and Latin. The French Word list is found below at the end of this section and contains French words of value in genealogical research translated into English.

The Family History Library's separate Germany Research Topics includes an example of the German (Gothic) alphabet in print and handwriting.

The following books and English-French dictionaries can also help you in your research. You can find these and similar material at many research libraries.

French records extraction. Salt Lake City, Utah, USA: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, [198-?]. (Family History Library book ; fiche .) Text in English. Shows examples of French civil and parish records, translations of common words found in them, personal name lists, and handwriting examples.

New Cassell's French dictionary: French-English, English-French. New York, NY, USA: Funk &amp; Wagnalls, 1970. (Family History Library book ; not on microfilm.)

Additional language aids (including dictionaries of various dialects and time periods) are listed in the Family History Library Catalog in the Place search under FRANCE - LANGUAGE AND LANGUAGES or in the Subject search under FRENCH LANGUAGE - DICTIONARIES.

French Word List
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

Additional 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, film item 4.)

Additional dictionaries are listed in the Subject search of the Family History Library 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 .) 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.

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.).

Return to top of page

A

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 Algerie Algeria alité bedridden Allemand(e) German 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

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-soeur 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 Brittany [oncle à la mode de Bretagne] [first cousin of one’s parent] briquetier brick maker bru daughter-in-law brumaire See “Months” bureau office

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 bed, marital bed [morte en couches] [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

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

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 (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 foreign, foreigner, strange être to be [un être] [a being] évéché diocese évêque bishop exécuté performed expédié(s) sent extérieur outside extrait extract

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 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 floréal See “Months” fonction duty, occupation, function [faisant les fonctions] [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 frimaire See “Months” fromager cheese merchant or maker frontière border fructidor See “Months” funèbre funeral furent were fut was futur fiancé, the intended groom future fiancée, the intended bride

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

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

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) Italian

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

K

kilomètre kilometer

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

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 house [maison communale] [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 messidor See “Months” 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

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 nivôse See “Months” 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

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

P

page page Palatinat Palatinate, Pfalz par by pareil(le) same, alike, similar parent parent, relative paroisse parish (office) parrain godfather part portion, part [d’une part] [on the one hand] [et d’autre part] [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 place plus, en besides, in addition to plus âgé(e) older, elder, oldest, eldest plus vieux older, elder, oldest, eldest pluviôse See “Months” policier policeman pont bridge population population porte door Portugais(e) Portuguese poser place, put pour for pourquoi why prairial See “Months” 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

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

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

S

sa his, her, its sabotier wooden-shoe maker sacristain sacristan, sexton sage-femme midwife saignement bleeding sain sane, healthy saints sacrements last rites d’absolution 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

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 thermidor See “Months” 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

U

un, une a, an, one unième first unis en mariage united in marriage

V

valet servant vallée valley varie various variole smallpox veille previous evening or day vendémiaire See “Months” vendeur seller, salesman vendeuse seller, saleslady vendredi Friday ventôse See “Months” 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

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-twentie;, 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, 70th soixante-dixième septante septantième 71 soixante-onze, 71st soixante-onzième septante-un septante-et-unième 80 quatre-vingt(s) 80th quatre-vingtième octante octantième huitante huitantième 90 quatre-vingt-dix 90th quatre-vingt-dixième nonante nonantième 99 quatre-vingt-dix- 99th quatre-vingt-dix- neuf, nonante- neuvième, nonante- neuf neuvième 100 cent 100th centième 1000 mil, mille 1000th millième

Return to top of page

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.

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

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.

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.

Days of the Week

English French Sunday dimanche Monday lundi Tuesday mardi Wednesday mercredi Thursday jeudi Friday vendredi Saturday samedi

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

Paper publication: Second edition 1997. English approval: 4/97.