French Genealogical Word List: Difference between revisions

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.)  

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French words for persons, places, and things (nouns) are classified as masculine or feminine. Generally, adjectives used to describe feminine words end with e.  

Spelling <br>Spelling rules were not fixed in earlier centuries. In French the following spelling variations are common:  

-bv- used for -v-: "février" spelled "febvrier" <br>-c- used for -ss-: "aussi" spelled "auci" <br>-ct- used for -t-: "faites" spelled "faictes" <br>-es- used for -é-: "témoins" spelled "tesmoins" <br>-i- used for -j-: "jour" spelled "iour" <br>-o- used for -ou-: "tournier" spelled "tornier" <br>-os- used for -ô-: "nôtre" spelled "nostre" <br>-sç- used for -s-: "savoir" spelled "sçavoir" <br>-t- used for -tt-: "cette" spelled "cete" <br>-y- used for -i-: "hier" spelled "hyer" <br>-y- used for -ill-: "filleul" spelled "fyeul" <br>-z- used for -s-: "baptisé" spelled "baptizé"  

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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.  

French Records Extraction. Salt Lake City, Utah, USA: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, n.d. (Family History Library fiche {{FHL|417661|title-id|disp=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.  

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.  

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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.  

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<br>à=at, to, in<br>a=has<br>abjurations=renunciations of Protestant faith<br>absolution=absolution, last rites<br>accoucher=give birth<br>accoucheuse=midwife<br>à cet endroit=in this place<br>acheter=to buy<br>acte de baptême=baptismal record<br>acte de décès=death record<br>acte de naissance=birth certificate, record<br>acte de sépulture=burial record<br>adjoint du maire=mayor’s assistant<br>adopté(e)=adopted<br>adultère=adulterer<br>affiché=posted (on door)<br>afficher les bans=post banns<br>âgé(e)=aged<br>ai (ay)=(I) have<br>aïeul=grandfather<br>aïeule=grandmother<br>aîné (l’aîné)=the older, senior<br>ainsi que=as well as<br>à jour=current<br>Algérie=Algeria<br>alité=bedridden<br>allemand(e)=German<br>Allemagne=Germany<br>alliance=marriage<br>alsacien(ne)=Alsatian<br>ami(e)=friend<br>an (année)=year<br>anabaptiste=Mennonite<br>anglais(e)=English<br>anniversaire=anniversary<br>annuaire=directory<br>annuel=annual, yearly<br>août=August<br>apparu=appeared<br>appelé(e)=named<br>apprenti=apprentice<br>approuvé=approved<br>après=after<br>après-midi=afternoon<br>arbre généalogique=family tree, pedigree<br>archives=archive<br>Archives du Royaume=state archives (Belgium)<br>Archives Nationales=state archives (France)<br>a reçu=has received<br>armoiries=coat of arms<br>arpent=acre<br>arpenteur=surveyor<br>arpète=errand boy, apprentice<br>arrière=great (as in great-grandparents)<br>arrondissement=district (administrative division of a French département)<br>attaque=seizure<br>au=at the, in the<br>aubergiste=innkeeper<br>aucun(e)=no, none<br>au dessus=over<br>aujourd’hui=today<br>au même endroit=at the same place<br>auparavant=former<br>aussi=also, as, since<br>autant=as much<br>autorisation=permission<br>autour=around<br>autre=other<br>avant=former, before<br>avant-hier=the day before yesterday<br>avec=with<br>avocat=attorney<br>avoir=to have<br>avons=(we) have<br>avril=April<br>ayant=having<br>  

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<br>ban (le)=the territory<br>bans=marriage banns, announcement(s)<br>baptême=baptism<br>baptême d’urgence=emergency baptism<br>baptisé=baptized<br>baptisé sous condition=conditionally baptized<br>Baptiste=Baptist<br>bas=low, lower<br>batisseur=builder<br>beau-fils=son-in-law, stepson<br>beau-frère=brother-in-law, stepbrother<br>beau-père=father-in-law, stepfather<br>bêcheur=field worker<br>belge=Belgian<br>belle-fille=daughter-in-law, stepdaughter<br>belle-mère=mother-in-law, stepmother<br>belle-sœur=sister-in-law, stepsister<br>berger=shepherd<br>bien=well<br>biens=goods, property<br>biographie=biography<br>blanc (blanche)=white<br>bon (bonne)=good<br>bonne=maid, female servant<br>boucher=butcher<br>boulanger=baker<br>bourgeois=citizen, member of the middle class<br>bourguignon=Burgundian<br>bouvier=herdsman, cowherd<br>brasseur=brewer<br>brassier=farmworker, laborer (old word)<br>Bretagne=Brittany<br>[oncle à la mode de Bretagne]=[first cousin of one’s parent]<br>briquetier=brick maker<br>bru=daughter-in-law<br>brumaire=See “Months”<br>bureau=office<br>  

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<br>cabaretier=barkeeper<br>canton=administrative division of an arrondissement (in France), province (in Switzerland), township (in French Canada)<br>carte=map<br>catholique romaine=Roman Catholic<br>ce, c’=it<br>ce, cet, cette=this, that<br>céans=here within<br>cejourd’hier=yesterday<br>cejourd’hui=today<br>célèbre=famous<br>célibataire=bachelor, unmarried, single<br>celle=this one, she<br>celle-ci=the latter (f.)<br>celle-là=the former (f.)<br>celui=this one, he<br>celui-ci=the latter (m.)<br>celui-là=the former (m.)<br>cent=hundred<br>centième=hundredth<br>certificat=certificate<br>ceux=those<br>charbonnier=charcoal burner<br>charcutier=pork merchant<br>charretier=cart or carriage man<br>charron=cartwright, wheelwright<br>chasseur=hunter<br>château=castle<br>châtelain=owner of a castle<br>chaudronnier=cooper, barrel maker<br>chez=at the home of<br>chirurgien=surgeon<br>ci-dessous=below here<br>ci-dessus=above here<br>cimetière=cemetery<br>cinq=five<br>cinquante=fifty<br>cinquantième=fiftieth<br>cinquième=fifth<br>citoyen(ne)=citizen<br>clergé=clergymen<br>colline=hill<br>communauté=community (of goods), religious community<br>commune=town, commune (smallest political division in France)<br>communion=communion<br>compagnon=journeyman, partner<br>comparu=appeared<br>comprend=includes<br>comte=count<br>concubine=concubine<br>congestion cérébrale=stroke<br>conjoint=spouse, assistant<br>connaissance=acquaintance<br>conseil d’état civil=civil registrar’s<br>conseiller=councilor<br>consentement=consent<br>contenu=content<br>contractant=the groom (in a marriage record)<br>contractante=the bride (in a marriage record)<br>contrat de mariage=marriage contract<br>contre=against<br>coqueluche=whooping cough<br>cordier=rope maker<br>cordonnier=shoemaker<br>côte=hill<br>couches=bed, marital bed<br>[morte en couches]=[died in childbirth]<br>coup de sang=paralytic stroke<br>cour=court<br>courant=current<br>cousin(e)=cousin<br>cousin(e) germain(e)=first cousin<br>couvreur=roofer<br>culte=religion<br>cultivateur=farmer, cultivator<br>curateur=guardian<br>  

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<br>d’=of<br>dame=lady<br>dans=in<br>de=of, from, out<br>décapité=decapitated<br>décédé=the deceased<br>décembre=December<br>décennal(e)=decennial<br>décennie=decade<br>décès=death, deaths<br>déclarant=informant<br>déclaré=declared, stated<br>décrépitude=old age<br>défunt(e)=deceased<br>dehors=outside<br>de la=of the, some<br>demain=tomorrow<br>demeurant=living at<br>demi=half<br>demi frère=stepbrother, half brother<br>demi soeur=stepsister, half sister<br>demoiselle=Miss (of well-to-do parents, may be a married woman)<br>département=department (French “county” since 1790)<br>depuis=since<br>derniers sacrements=last rites<br>des=of the, some<br>desdits=of the said (pl.)<br>dessous=lower, below<br>dessus=above<br>deux=two<br>deuxième=second<br>devant=in front of<br>devenir=to become<br>devoir=should<br>d’hier=yesterday’s<br>dictionnaire=dictionary<br>dictionnaire des communes=gazetteer<br>dimanche=Sunday<br>dîme=tithing<br>diocèse=diocese<br>dispense=exemption, dispensation<br>dit(e) (ditte)=said, also known as, aforementioned<br>divers(e)=various<br>divorcé(e)=divorced<br>dix=ten<br>dix-huit=eighteen<br>dix-huitième=eighteenth<br>dixième=tenth<br>dix-neuf=nineteen<br>dix-neuvième=nineteenth<br>dix-sept=seventeen<br>dix-septième=seventeenth<br>domaine=estate<br>domestique=servant girl, maid<br>domicile=home, residence, domicile<br>donné=given<br>donner=to give<br>dons=donations<br>dont=of whom, of which<br>double=duplicate record<br>douze=twelve<br>douzième=twelfth<br>droguiste=druggist<br>droit(e)=right<br>du=of the, some<br>duc=duke<br>duché=duchy<br>duchesse=duchess<br>durant=during<br>  

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eaux-et-forêts=waters and forests, forestry service<br>ébéniste=cabinetmaker, furniture maker<br>échevin=alderman, municipal magistrate<br>école=school<br>écrire=to write<br>écrit=written, document<br>écrivain=scribe, writer<br>église=church<br>elle=she, her<br>elles=they, them (f.)<br>émigrant(e)=emigrant<br>émigré(e)=emigrant<br>empêchement=prevention<br>employé(e)=clerk<br>en=in<br>enceinte=pregnant<br>encore=again<br>endroit=place<br>enfant=baby, child<br>enfant exposé=foundling<br>enfant trouvé=foundling<br>enflement=swelling<br>ensemble=together<br>entend=intends, hears<br>enterré(e) buried<br>enterrement=burial, interment<br>entre=between, among<br>environ=about, approximately<br>épicier=grocer, spice merchant<br>épousailles=wedding<br>épouse=bride, wife<br>époux=bridegroom, husband<br>espagnol(e)=Spanish<br>est=is, east<br>et=and<br>étaient=were<br>était=was<br>étant (estant)=being<br>état=state<br>état=civil civil registration<br>été=been, summer<br>étranger/étrangère=foreign, foreigner, strange<br>être=to be<br>[un être]=[a being]<br>évéché=diocese<br>évêque=bishop<br>exécuté=performed<br>expédié(s)=sent<br>extérieur=outside<br>extrait=extract<br>  

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<br>fabricant de bas=maker of stockings<br>fabricant de savon=maker of soap<br>facteur=postman, mailman<br>facture=account, bill<br>faiblesse=weakness<br>fait(e)=made, done<br>famille=family, relative(s)<br>féminin(e)=female<br>femme=wife, woman<br>ferblantier=tin man, tinsmith<br>fermier=farmer<br>fête=holiday, feast<br>feu(e)=deceased, the late<br>feuille=folio, leaf, page<br>février=February<br>fiançailles=engagement<br>fiançé=betrothed, engaged, fiancé (m.)<br>fiançée=betrothed, engaged, fiancée (f.)<br>fiancer=to become engaged<br>fichier=card index<br>fièvre=fever<br>fileuse=spinster<br>fille=daughter, girl<br>fille de mauvaise vie=prostitute<br>fils=son<br>floréal=See “Months”<br>fonction=duty, occupation, function<br>[faisant les fonctions]=[doing the functions (occupation), serving as]<br>fonts=(baptismal) font<br>forestier=forester<br>forêt=forest<br>forgeron=smith<br>forteresse=fortress<br>frais=fee<br>français(e)=French<br>franc-tenancier=freeholder, yeoman<br>frère=brother<br>frère consanguin=brother by the same father but different mother<br>frère germain=brother by the same mother and father<br>frère utérin=brother by the same mother but different father<br>frimaire=See “Months”<br>fromager=cheese merchant or maker<br>frontière=border<br>fructidor=See “Months”<br>funèbre=funeral<br>furent=were<br>fut=was<br>futur, fiancé=the intended groom<br>future, fiancée=the intended bride<br>  

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<br>garçon=boy, unmarried young man<br>garde champêtre=field guard<br>garde=forestier forest guard<br>gardien=herdsman<br>gauche=left<br>gendarme=policeman<br>gendre=son-in-law<br>généalogique=genealogical<br>géomètre=surveyor<br>germinal=See “Months”<br>goutte=gout<br>grand(e)=large, great, tall<br>grandmère=grandmother<br>grandparents=grandparents<br>grandpère=grandfather<br>greffier=clerk of the court, registrar  

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<br>habitant=residing<br>habitation=residence<br>habiter=to inhabit<br>haut=high, upper<br>hectare=acre<br>héraldique=heraldry<br>héritage=inheritance<br>heure=hour, time<br>hier=yesterday<br>histoire=story, history<br>hollandais(e)=Dutch<br>homme=man<br>homme de main=day worker<br>honnête=honest<br>horloger=clock merchant or maker<br>houilleur=coal miner<br>huguenot(te)=Huguenot<br>huissier=usher, doorman<br>huit=eight<br>huitante=eighty<br>huitantième=eightieth<br>huitième=eighth<br>hydropisie=dropsy, edema  

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<br>icelle=this one (f.)<br>icelui=this one (m.)<br>ici=here<br>id. (Latin)=the same<br>identique=same, alike, similar<br>il=he<br>illégitime=illegitimate<br>immigrant(e)=immigrant<br>imposé=imposed, gave<br>impôts=taxation<br>inconnu(e)=unknown<br>inférieur(e)=lower<br>instituteur=schoolteacher (m.)<br>institutrice=schoolteacher (f.)<br>intérieur=inside<br>inventaire=après décès inventory after death<br>italien(ne)=Italiann  

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<br>jamais=never<br>janvier=January<br>jardinier=gardener<br>je=I<br>jeudi=Thursday<br>jeune=young, the younger, junior<br>jeûne=fasting, fast day<br>jour=day<br>jour de baptême=day of baptism<br>jour d’hier, le=yesterday<br>journalier=day laborer, farmworker<br>jour=suivant the following day<br>juge=judge<br>Juif=Jewish, Jew<br>juillet=July<br>juin=June<br>Juive=Jewish, Jewess<br>jumeaux=twins (male, or male and female)<br>jumelles=twins (female)<br>juré=juryman  

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<br>kilomètre=kilometer  

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<br>l’=the (m. and f.)<br>la=the (f.)<br>là=there<br>laboureur=plowman, farmer (man with team and plow)<br>lac=lake<br>laisser=let, leave, allow<br>laquelle=which (f.)<br>le=the (m.)<br>lecture=reading<br>légal(e)=legal<br>légitime=legitimate<br>lendemain=following day<br>lequel=which (m.)<br>les=the (plural)<br>lesquels=which (plural)<br>leur=their, to them<br>lieu=place<br>livre=book<br>livret de famille=family register<br>loi=law<br>lui=him, to him<br>lundi=Monday<br>luxembourgeois(e)=Luxembourger  

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<br>M.=sir, Mr.<br>maçon=mason, bricklayer<br>Madame=Mrs.<br>Mademoiselle=unmarried woman, Miss<br>magister=village schoolmaster<br>mai=May<br>maire=mayor<br>mairie=town hall<br>mais=but<br>maison=house<br>[maison communale]=[town hall]<br>maître=master<br>maître=d’école schoolteacher<br>majeur=of legal age, older<br>majorité=legal age, majority<br>maladie=disease, sickness<br>maraîcher=market gardener<br>marchand=merchant<br>marchant=trader, merchant<br>marché=market<br>mardi=Tuesday<br>maréchal ferrant=blacksmith<br>mari=husband<br>mariage=marriage, wedding<br>marié=groom, husband, married (m.)<br>mariée=bride, wife, married (f.)<br>marier (se marier)=to get married<br>mariés=the married ones<br>marin=sailor<br>marocain(e)=Moroccan<br>marraine=godmother<br>mars=March, Mars<br>masculin=male, masculine<br>matin=early (a.m.), morning<br>mégisseur=tanner<br>membre=member<br>même=the same, even<br>mendiant=beggar<br>menuisier=joiner, carpenter<br>mercredi=Wednesday<br>mère=mother<br>mériter=to be worthy<br>messe=Catholic mass<br>messidor=See “Months”<br>métayer=dairy keeper, cowherd, sharecropper<br>métier=trade, occupation, profession<br>métis, métisse=mixed blood<br>meunier=miller<br>midi=noon<br>mil=thousand<br>militaire=military<br>mille=thousand<br>millième=thousandth<br>mineur=under legal age, younger, minor<br>minorité=under legal age, minority<br>minuit=midnight<br>mis(e) en terre=buried<br>Mlle.=Mademoiselle, Miss<br>Mme.=Madame, Mrs.<br>moi=me<br>mois=month<br>Monsieur=sir, Mr.<br>montagne=hill, mountain<br>mort(e)=dead, death<br>mort=né stillborn<br>moulin=mill<br>mourant=dying<br>mourir=to die<br>moyen(ne)=middle, median, central <br>mulâtre=mulatto<br>muni des sacrements de l’Eglise=furnished with the (last) rites of the church  

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<br>naissance=birth<br>naturel=illegitimate (not always true)<br>né(e)=born<br>née=maiden name<br>négociant=trader, businessman<br>neuf=nine<br>neuvième=ninth<br>neveu=nephew<br>ni=neither, nor<br>nièce=niece<br>nivôse=See “Months”<br>noble=nobleman<br>noblesse=nobility<br>noces=wedding<br>noir(e)=black<br>nom=name, surname<br>nom=de famille surname, last name<br>nommé(e)=named, alias<br>non=not<br>nonante=ninety<br>nonantième=ninetieth<br>nord=north<br>norman(de)=Norman<br>notaire=notary<br>notes=remarks<br>nôtre (nostre)=our<br>nous=we, us<br>nouveau, nouvelle=new<br>novembre=November<br>noyé(e)=drowned<br>nuit=night<br>numéro=number<br>nuptial(e)=bridal, pertaining to a wedding  

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<br>obsèques=funeral, burial<br>octante=eighty<br>octantième=eightieth<br>octobre=October<br>oncle=uncle<br>ondoyé(e)=baptized provisionally<br>ont=(they) have<br>onze=eleven<br>onzième=eleventh<br>orphelin(e)=orphan<br>ou=or<br>où=where<br>ouest=west  

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<br>Palatinat=Palatinate, Pfalz<br>par=by<br>pareil(le)=same, alike, similar<br>parent=parent, relative<br>paroisse=parish (office)<br>parrain=godfather<br>part=portion, part<br>[d’une part]=[on the one hand]<br>[et d’autre part]=[and on the other hand]<br>pas=not<br>pas encore=not yet<br>passé=past<br>pasteur=pastor<br>pâtissier=pastry maker<br>pâtre=herdsman<br>pauvre=indigent, poor<br>pays=land, country<br>paysan(ne)=small farmer, peasant<br>pêcheur=fisher<br>peintre=painter<br>penultième=day before the last<br>percer des dents=teething<br>père=father<br>petit=small, little<br>petite-fille=granddaughter<br>petite=noblesse gentry<br>petit-fils=grandson<br>petit propriétaire=yeoman<br>peuple=citizens<br>peut-être=maybe, perhaps<br>pharmacien=pharmacist<br>pièces=documents<br>pied terrier=land record<br>place=place<br>plus, en=besides, in addition to<br>plus=âgé(e) older, elder, oldest, eldest<br>plus=vieux older, elder, oldest, eldest<br>pluviôse=See “Months”<br>policier=policeman<br>pont=bridge<br>population=population<br>porte=door<br>portugais(e)=Portuguese<br>poser=place, put<br>pour=for<br>pourquoi=why<br>prairial=See “Months”<br>précédent(e)=previous, preceding<br>préfet=prefect (the head of a département in France)<br>premier, première=first<br>prénom=given (first) name<br>près=de next to<br>présenté=presented<br>prêtre=clergyman, priest<br>preuve=proof<br>principalité=principality<br>prochain(e)=following, next, nearest<br>proche=parent close relative<br>professeur=professor, teacher<br>propos de, à=about, concerning<br>propriétaire=owner, proprietor<br>protestant=Protestant<br>provincial(e)=provincial<br>prussien(ne)=Prussian<br>publié=published, announced<br>publier=publish  

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<br>quand=when<br>quarante=forty<br>quarantième=fortieth<br>quartier=district or neighborhood in a city<br>quatorze=fourteen<br>quatorzième=fourteenth<br>quatre=four<br>quatre-vingt-dix=ninety<br>quatre-vingt-dixième=ninetieth<br>quatre-vingt=eighty<br>quatre-vingtième=eightieth<br>quatrième=fourth<br>que (qu’)=what, which, that<br>qui=who, whom<br>quinze=fifteen<br>quinzième=fifteenth<br>quoi=what  

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<br>recensement=census<br>recherche=research<br>reconnu=recognized, acknowledged<br>reçu(e)=received<br>réformé(e)=Reformed/Calvinist<br>régisseur=farm manager, steward<br>registre=register<br>registres d’état civil=registers of births, civil marriages, and deaths<br>registres paroissiaux=parish registers<br>reine=queen<br>religion=religion<br>religion prétendue réformé (R.P.R.)=Reformed Church, Huguenot<br>rentier(e)=retired person living from rents, landlord<br>répertoire=register, index<br>répertoire toponymique=gazetteer<br>République Française=French Republic<br>retraité=formerly employed, retired<br>revue=periodical<br>rien=nothing<br>rivière=stream, river<br>roi (roy)=king<br>rouge=red<br>rougeole=measles<br>royaume=kingdom<br>rue=street<br>russe=Russian  

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<br>sa=his, her, its<br>sabotier=wooden-shoe maker<br>sacristain=sacristan, sexton<br>sage-femme=midwife<br>saignement=bleeding<br>sain=sane, healthy<br>saints sacrements (d'absolution)=last rites<br>samedi=Saturday<br>sans=without<br>sans vie=without life, lifeless<br>savoir=to know, namely<br>savonnier=soap merchant, soapmaker<br>saxon=Saxon<br>scarlatine=scarlet fever<br>sceau=seal<br>scieur=sawyer<br>Seigneur=the Lord<br>seize=sixteen<br>seizième=sixteenth<br>selon=according to<br>semaine=week<br>sénilité=old age<br>sept=seven<br>septante=seventy<br>septantième=seventieth<br>septembre=September<br>septième=seventh<br>sépulture=burial<br>seront=(they) will be<br>serrurier=locksmith<br>servante=maid, servant girl<br>ses=his, her, its<br>seul(e)=single, alone<br>seulement=only<br>sexe=sex<br>siècle=century<br>signature=signature<br>signé=signed<br>six=six<br>sixième=sixth<br>société=society<br>soeur=sister<br>soeur consanguine=sister by the same father but different mother<br>soeur germaine=sister by the same mother and father<br>soeur utérine=sister by the same mother but different father<br>soir=(soirée) evening<br>soixante=sixty<br>soixante-dix=seventy<br>soixante-dixième=seventieth<br>soixantième=sixtieth<br>soldat=soldier<br>son=his, her, its<br>sont=are<br>sous=under, low<br>soussigné=the undersigned<br>souvent=often<br>statut légal=status, condition<br>statut personnel=status, condition<br>sud=south<br>suisse=Swiss<br>suivant(e)=next, following, according to<br>supérieur(e)=upper<br>sur=on, above, upon, at<br>surlendemain=two days later<br>survivant=surviving<br>sus-dit=aforementioned<br>susnommé=aforementioned  

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<br>table=index<br>tables décennales=ten-year indexes<br>tailleur=cloth maker, draper<br>tailleur de pierre=stonecutter<br>tailleur=d’habits tailor<br>tanneur=tanner<br>tant=as, so much<br>tante=aunt<br>tantôt=afternoon<br>tavernier=tavern owner<br>teinturier=dyer<br>témoin=witness<br>temps=time<br>tenir un enfant sur les fonts=to act as godfather or godmother to a child<br>terre=earth, land<br>terres=estate<br>testament=last will<br>thermidor=See “Months”<br>tisserand=weaver<br>tisserand de lin=linen weaver<br>tisseur=weaver<br>tome=volume<br>tonnelier=cooper<br>tôt=early (a.m.)<br>toujours=always<br>tournier=turner, woodworker<br>tous=all<br>tous=les deux both<br>toux=cough<br>travailleur=worker, laborer<br>travers, à=through, across<br>treize=thirteen<br>treizième=thirteenth<br>trente=thirty<br>trente-et-un=thirty-one<br>trente-et-unième=thirty-first<br>trentième=thirtieth<br>tribunal=court<br>trois=three<br>troisième=third<br>tuilier=tile maker<br>tumeurv=tumor<br>tuteur=guardian  

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<br>un, une=a, an, one <br>unième=first <br>unis en mariage=united in marriage  

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<br>valet=servant<br>vallée=valley<br>varie=various<br>variole=smallpox<br>veille=previous evening or day<br>vendémiaire=See “Months”<br>vendeur=seller, salesman<br>vendeuse=seller, saleslady<br>vendredi=Friday<br>ventôse=See “Months”<br>vérole=venereal disease, syphilis<br>vérole, petite=smallpox<br>verrier=glassmaker<br>vers=toward<br>vert=green<br>veuf=widowed, widower<br>veuve=widowed, widow<br>vie=life<br>vieillesse=old age<br>vierge=virgin, unmarried woman<br>vieux=(vielle) old<br>vieux=garçon bachelor<br>vigneron=grape grower<br>village=hamlet, village<br>ville=village or town, city<br>vingt=twenty<br>vingt-cinq=twenty-five<br>vingt-cinquième=twenty-fifth<br>vingt-deux=twenty-two<br>vingt-deuxième=twenty-second<br>vingt-et-un=twenty-one<br>vingt-et-unième=twenty-first<br>vingt-huit=twenty-eight<br>vingt-huitième=twenty-eighth<br>vingtième=twentieth<br>vingt-neuf=twenty-nine<br>vingt-neuvième=twenty-ninth<br>vingt-quatre=twenty-four<br>vingt-quatrième=twenty-fourth<br>vingt-sept=twenty-seven<br>vingt-septième=twenty-seventh<br>vingt-six=twenty-six<br>vingt-sixième=twenty-sixth<br>vingt-trois=twenty-three<br>vingt-troisième=twenty-third<br>vivant=living, lifetime<br>vivant, de son=during his (her) life<br>vivre=to live<br>voir=see<br>voisin(e)=neighbor<br>vouloir=to wish, to want

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<br>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.  

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In French records, dates are often written out. For example:  

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<br>English-French<br>January=janvier<br>February=février<br>March=mars<br>April=avril<br>May=mai<br>June=juin<br>July=juillet<br>August=août<br>September=septembre, 7bre<br>October=octobre, 8bre<br>November=novembre, 9bre<br>December=décembre, 10bre, Xbre

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<br>English-French <br>Sunday=dimanche <br>Monday=lundi <br>Tuesday=mardi <br>Wednesday=mercredi <br>Thursday=jeudi <br>Friday=vendredi <br>Saturday=samedi  

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<br>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.