French Genealogical Word List: Difference between revisions

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 <br>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.  

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