French Vocabulary in Diplomacy And International Relations

French vocabulary diplomacy

This week’s post offers a French vocabulary list in diplomacy and international relations. These words comes directly from French language and are used into diplomatic discourse. Each term in French is followed by an English translation.

A few centuries ago, France was a world power;

  • militarily

  • economically

  • and culturally.

Therefore, naturally, the French language was also used for diplomatic affairs between several countries.

Times have changed, and even though today French is fighting a losing battle with English, the French language is still well represented in the vocabulary of diplomacy.


French: language of diplomacy in History

french diplomacy vocabulary

The Hundred Years’ War, which ended in 1453, had an effect on both French and English nationalism. Despite an effort by English officials to ban French, the language continued to thrive as the language of diplomacy throughout Europe.

The qualities of the French language itself made it a medium most suitable for diplomatic discourse. Strict rules of syntax guaranteed the precision of the sentence.

In the second half of the seventeenth century, the pre-eminence of Louis XIV, the “Sun King” (le Roi Soleil) helped to consolidate the position of French, which became the diplomatic language, replacing Latin. At that time, the French diplomatic machine was larger than any other. For over 150 years, until the French Revolution, France remained supreme in international diplomacy, setting the diplomatic pattern for the world.

Although nowadays the French language is losing its influence in diplomacy, multilateral treaties are usually concluded in two languages – English and French – with both texts considered equally authoritative.

English and French became the first two working languages at the United Nations, on the 1st February 1946.

This meant in effect that speeches made in one working language were interpreted into the other, and speeches made in the official languages were interpreted into both working languages.


French words related to diplomatic titles

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Although they have been anglicized in the pronunciation of the words, certain words (mainly related to diplomatic titles) keep the same spelling. The titles and order of rank specify 3 classes of heads of missions:

  • Ambassadeurs (Ambassadeurs)

  • Envoyés, ministres (Envoys, ministers)

  • Chargés d’affaires (Chargés d’affaires accredited to ministers of foreign affairs)

Heads of mission are designated in English by the French word ambassador, envoy and chargés d’affaires. The generic term diplomat is, of course, also French in origin (from diplomate).


Glossary: French words still used in diplomacy

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Just like the vocabulary of warfare and the military, vocabulary of diplomacy includes many words and expressions of French origin. This list defines words adopted directly from French into diplomatic discourse, now dominated by English.

A

  • Une ambassade: embassy

  • Un ambassadeur, une ambassadrice : ambassador

  • Un(e) attaché(e)commercial : commercial attaché

  • Un(e) attaché(e)culturel : cultural attaché

  • Un(e) attaché(e)militaire : military attaché

  • Un allié : an ally

  • Un aide-mémoire : memory aid

  • Un acte final : final act

  • Une alliance : alliance

  • Un adversaire : adversary

B

  • Bilatéral :bilateral

C

  • Un(e)chargé(e)d’affaire : chargé d’affaires

  • Un consul : consul

  • Un consulat : consulat

  • Une conférence : a conference

  • Coopérer : to cooperate

  • Une conspiration : conspiration

  • La chancellerie : chancery

  • Un communiqué : communiqué

  • Une collaboration : a collaboration

 

D

  • La défiance : defiance

  • Diplomatique : diplomatic

  • La diplomatie : diplomacy

  • Un/e diplomate : a diplomat

  • Un(e) dissident(e) : a dissident

  • Une détente : a detente (a relaxation of tension between nations)

 

E

  • L’espionnage : espionage

  • Un/une envoyé(e) : an envoy

  • Un embargo : an embargo

  • Un émissaire : an emissary

 

F

  • Une force majeure : force majeure (compulsion or coercion by circumstances, which one cannot control)

 

G

  • La géopolitique : geopolitics

 

I

  • Une immunité diplomatique : diplomatic immunity

  • Une impasse : an impass

  • Intervenir : to intervene

  • L’inviolabilité : inviolability

 

M

  • Une mission : a mission

  • Un ministre : a minister

 

N

  • Une nation : a nation

  • La négociation : a negotiation

  • Un négociateur : a negotiator

  • Négocier : to negotiate

  • La neutralité : neutrality

 

P

  • Le protocol: protocol

  • Un pacte: a pact

  • Proclamer : to proclaim

 

R

  • Un rapprochement : a rapprochement (A reestablishing of cordial relations, as between two countries.)

  • Un rapporteur : a reporter

  • Une ratification : a ratification

  • Un rapprochement: a reconciliation of interests of rival states after a period of estrangement

  • Ratifier : to ratify

 

S

  • Un souverain : a sovereign

  • Un sommet : a summit

  • Stipuler : to stipulate

  • Le service diplomatique : diplomatic service

  • Les services secrets : secret services

  • La surveillance : surveillance

 

T

  • Un traité: a treaty

  • Un territoire : a territory

  • Une table ronde : a round table

 

U

  • Unilatéral : unilateral

  • Un ultimatum : ultimatum

 

V

  • Un véto :veto

French lessons for diplomats

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French à La Carte offers tailor-made French lessons for diplomats.

In this course, students learn the French language specializing particularly in the field of diplomacy.

The language teaching focuses on the area of International Relations.

The French lessons for diplomats are designed specifically for representatives of international organizations and embassies, whose responsibilities involve effective engagement in diplomacy and International Relations.

Your objectives:

  • Acquire the specific vocabulary necessary for the political and International Relations field.

  • Understand formal speech  

  • Speak in highly formal speech

  • Develop proficiency in major protocol and diplomatic rules and customs

  • Reading and writing diplomatic documents

  • Prepare internal examinations from the Embassy

  • Represent, inform and protect

Content, duration and structure vary in accordance with the priorities and expectations of the participants.

Embassies such as those of the British, the United States, Finland and the  Republic of the Philippines have chosen to learn French with us.