French language

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French language distribution

letter signed by Eugène Delacroix

road sign in English and French, Canada

Europe: Romance languages

Learn about the entry of French words in the English language after the Norman Conquest of England

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French language summary

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French language: Facts & Related Content

Written and fact-checked by The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

News •

In retired French surgeon's child rape trial, son says father was like 'Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde' • Feb. 25, 2025, 8:27 AM ET (Reuters)

Retired French surgeon admits 'despicable' acts in child rape trial • Feb. 25, 2025, 12:27 AM ET (Reuters)

Facts

Also Known As	français

Photos and Videos

French language distribution

letter signed by Eugène Delacroix

road sign in English and French, Canada

Europe: Romance languages

Learn about the entry of French words in the English language after the Norman Conquest of England

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Topics

Franco-Provençal dialect Francien dialect langue d’oïl Frankish dialect Franco-Italian language Walloon Canadian French Norman Old French language Anglo-Norman Spanish language Romanian language Rhaetian dialects Sardinian language Catalan language Portuguese language Occitan language Italian language Ladino language Mozarabic language

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Key People

Charles Baudelaire

Charles Baudelaire

French author

Nicholas Oresme

French bishop, scholar, and economist

Maurice Maeterlinck, c. 1890.

Maurice Maeterlinck

Belgian author

Valery Yakovlevich Bryusov, portrait by an unknown artist.

Valery Yakovlevich Bryusov

Russian author

Elisabeth Marbury

American theatrical and literary agent

William Caxton

William Caxton

English printer, translator, and publisher

Melvin Van Peebles

American author and filmmaker

Mongo Beti

Cameroonian author

Mme du Châtelet, detail of a portrait by an unknown French artist; in a private collection

Gabrielle-Émilie Le Tonnelier de Breteuil, marquise du Châtelet

French scientist and philosopher

Harriet Martineau, detail of an engraving

Harriet Martineau

British author

Jacques Lefèvre d’Étaples

French humanist and theologian

Anthony Munday

English poet, dramatist, pamphleteer, and translator

Charles Van Lerberghe

Belgian poet

Mary Louise Booth.

Mary Louise Booth

American journalist

Marguerite Taos Amrouche

Algerian singer and writer

Pétrus Ky

Vietnamese statesman

Nina Berberova

Russian-American writer

Freiligrath, Ferdinand

Ferdinand Freiligrath

German poet

Amyot, Jacques

Jacques Amyot

French scholar

Isabel Florence Hapgood

American translator

Quiz

Buddhist engravings on wall in Thailand. Hands on wall. Hompepage blog 2009, history and society, science and technology, geography and travel, explore discovery

Languages & Alphabets