French word list
by Therese Becker
7bre = September
8bre = October
9bre = November
Xbre = December
acte de deces = death record
acte de mariage = marriage record
acte de naissance = birth record
age(e) = aged
ami(e) = friend
approuve = approuved
aujourdui = today
avant-hier = the day before yesterday
beau-fils = son-in-law, stepson
beau-frere = brother-in-law, stepbrother
beau-pere = father-in-law, stepfather
belle-fille = daughter-in-law, stepdaughter
belle-mere = mother-in-law, stepmother
belle-soeur = sister-in-law, stepsister
comparu = appeared
conjoint = spouse
cousin(e) = cousin
cousin(e) germain(e)= first cousin
cultivateur = farmer
curateur = guardian
d'hier = of yesterday
decede = deceased
declarant = informant
declare = declared, stated
defunt(e) = deceased
demi frere = stepbrother, half brother
demi soeur = stepsister, half sister
domicile = home, residence
environ = about
epouse = bride, wife
epoux = bridegroom, husband
feminin = female
femme = wife, woman
feu(e) = deceased, the late
fille = daughter, girl
fils = son
frere = brother
frere consanguin = brother by the same father
but different mother
frere germain = brother by the same father
and the same mother
frere uterin = brother by the same mother but
different father
grandmere = grandmother
grandparents = grandparents
grandpere = grandfather
heure = hour
hier = yesterday
inconnu(e) = unknown
journalier = day laborer, farm worker
jumeaux = twins (male, or male and
female)
jumelles = twins (female)
laboureur = plowman
lecture = reading
lendemain = following day
maire = mayor
mairie = town hall
maŒtre = master
mari = husband
marie = groom, married (m.)
mariee = bride, wife; married (f.)
masculin = male
mere = mother
naissance = birth
naturel = illegitimate (not always)
ne(e) = born
ne(e) = maiden name
neveu = nephew
niece = niece
noces = wedding
nom = name, surname
nom de famille = surname, last name
nomme(e) = named, alias
notaire = notary
nuit = night
nuptial = bridal, pertaining to a wedding
oncle = uncle
ondoye(e) = baptized provisionally
ont = (they) have
orphelin(e) = orphan
ou = where
ou = or
par = by
pas = not
pas encore = not yet
pays = land, country
paysan(ne) = small farmer, peasant
penultieme = day before the last
pere = father
petit-fils = grandson
petite-fille = granddaughter
pieces = documents
pour = for
prenom = given (first) name
pres de = next to
presente = presented
pretre = clergyman, priest
preuve = proof
protestant = protestant
publie = published, announced
quand = when
quoi = what
recensement = census
reconnu = acknowledged
re‡u = received
reforme(e) = reformed/Calvinist
registre = register
sage-femme = midwife
saints sacrements = last rites
sans = without
sans vie = without life, lifeless
Seigneur = the Lord
selon = according to
semaine = week
seront = (they)will be
ses = his, her, its
sexe = sex
siecle = century
signature = signature
soeur = sister
soeur consanguine = sister by the same father
but different mother
soeur germaine = sister by the same mother
and father
soeur uterine = sister by the same mother
but different father
soir = evening
son = his, her, its
sont = are
sous = under, low
soussigne = the undersigned
survivant = surviving
sus-dit = aforementioned
susnomme = aforementioned
table = index
tables decennales = ten-year indexes
tante = aunt
temoin = witness
temps = time
tenir un enfant = to act as godfather or
sur les fonts godmother to a child
testament = last will
toujours = always
tous les deux = both
un, une = a, an, one
unis en mariage = united in marriage
vers = toward
veuf = widowed, widower
veuve = widowed, widow
vie = life
vieux (vielle) = old
vivant = living, lifetime
vouloir = to wish, to want