French

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See also: french

English

Wiktionary
Wiktionary
French edition of Wiktionary

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Etymology

From Middle English Frenche, Frensch, Frensc, Frenshe, Frenkisch, Franche, from Old English Frenċisċ (“French”, literally “Frankish”), equivalent to Frank +‎ -ish. Cognate with Danish fransk (“French”), Swedish fransk, fransysk (“French”), Icelandic franska (“French”). Compare Frankish.

Pronunciation

  • Lua error in Module:parameters at line 229: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "UK" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. enPR: frĕnch, IPA(key): /fɹɛnt͡ʃ/, IPA(key): /fɹɛnʃ/
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Rhymes: -ɛntʃ
  • Rhymes: -ɪntʃ

Noun

French (countable and uncountable, plural French)

  1. (uncountable) A Romance language spoken primarily in France, Belgium, Switzerland, Quebec, Valle d'Aosta and many former French colonies.
    • 1997, Albert Valdman, French and Creole in Louisiana, page 29:
      Almost three quarters of the population 65 and older reported speaking French.
    • 2004, Jack Flam, Matisse and Picasso: The Story of Their Rivalry and Friendship, page 18:
      Although he would spend the rest of his life in France, Picasso never mastered the language, and during those early years he was especially self-conscious about how bad his French was.
  2. (collective in the plural) People of France, collectively.
    The French and the English have often been at war.
    • 2002, Jeremy Thornton, The French and Indian War, page 14:
      On the way, scouts reported that some French were heading toward them across the ice.
  3. (informal) Vulgar language.
    Pardon my French.
  4. (slang, sexuality) Oral sex, usually fellatio, sometimes cunnilingus.[1]

Usage notes

When used to refer collectively to people of France, the word French is preceded by the definite article or some other determiner.

Derived terms

Translations

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

See also

Proper noun

French

  1. A surname

Derived terms

Adjective

French (comparative more French, superlative most French)

  1. Of or relating to France.
    the French border with Italy
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  2. Of or relating to the people or culture of France.
    French customs
  3. Of or relating to the French language.
    French verbs
  4. (slang, sexuality) Of or related to oral sex, especially fellatio.
    French active ― person who is fellated
    French girl ― a prostitute who offers fellatio
  5. (informal, often euphemistic) Used to form names or references to venereal diseases.
    French disease ― a venereal disease
    French crown ― hair loss from venereal disease
    French pox ― syphillis

Synonyms

Derived terms

Terms derived from the adjective French

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Translations

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Verb

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  1. Alternative letter-case form of french
    • 1995, Jack Womack, Random Acts of Senseless Violence, page 87:
      Even before I thought about what I was doing we Frenched and kissed with tongues.

Alternative forms

Derived terms

Translations

to french — see french

See also

References

  1. ^ “French, adj. and n.”, in OED Online Paid subscription required⁠, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, September 2009. Retrieved: 2015-10-06.

Further reading

1code=fr
code=fra
link=Ethnologue

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