The French Revolution, which took place from 1789 to 1799, was a period of significant political and social upheaval in France that ultimately led to the end of monarchy and the rise of republicanism. Understanding key terms related to this era is essential for studying its history, political philosophy, and social impact.
1. Key Events and Terms (Les Événements et Termes Clés)
These words describe some of the most important events and concepts of the French Revolution.
- La Révolution française – The French Revolution
- La prise de la Bastille – The Storming of the Bastille
- La Déclaration des droits de l’homme et du citoyen – The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen
- Le serment du Jeu de Paume – The Tennis Court Oath
- L’Assemblée nationale (f) – The National Assembly
- La Grande Peur – The Great Fear
- La Terreur – The Reign of Terror
- La Première République – The First Republic
- Le coup d’État – The coup d’état
- Le Directoire – The Directory
- La Monarchie constitutionnelle – The Constitutional Monarchy
- L’abolition de la monarchie – The abolition of the monarchy
- Le calendrier républicain – The Republican calendar
Example Sentence:
- La prise de la Bastille a eu lieu le 14 juillet 1789. (The storming of the Bastille took place on July 14, 1789.)
2. Key Figures (Les Personnages Clés)
Important figures who played a role in shaping the Revolution.
- Louis XVI – King Louis XVI
- Marie-Antoinette – Queen Marie-Antoinette
- Maximilien Robespierre – Maximilien Robespierre
- Georges Danton – Georges Danton
- Jean-Paul Marat – Jean-Paul Marat
- Olympe de Gouges – Olympe de Gouges
- Camille Desmoulins – Camille Desmoulins
- Napoléon Bonaparte – Napoleon Bonaparte
- Les Jacobins – The Jacobins
- Les Girondins – The Girondins
- Les Sans-culottes – The Sans-culottes
Example Sentence:
- Robespierre était une figure centrale pendant la Terreur. (Robespierre was a central figure during the Reign of Terror.)
3. Political Terms (Les Termes Politiques)
The political vocabulary that emerged during the French Revolution and shaped its ideologies.
- La République – The Republic
- La monarchie absolue – The absolute monarchy
- La monarchie constitutionnelle – The constitutional monarchy
- Le citoyen / La citoyenne – The citizen
- L’égalité (f) – Equality
- La liberté – Liberty
- La fraternité – Brotherhood
- Le droit de vote – The right to vote
- La souveraineté nationale – National sovereignty
- Le suffrage universel – Universal suffrage
- Le clergé – The clergy
- La noblesse – The nobility
- Le Tiers-État – The Third Estate
- L’aristocratie (f) – The aristocracy
- La bourgeoisie – The bourgeoisie
- Le prolétariat – The proletariat
- La guillotine – The guillotine
- Les privilèges (m) – The privileges
Example Sentence:
- Le Tiers-État représentait la majorité du peuple français. (The Third Estate represented the majority of the French people.)
4. Symbols of the Revolution (Les Symboles de la Révolution)
These terms represent the symbols and ideas that became synonymous with the French Revolution.
- Le drapeau tricolore – The tricolor flag
- La cocarde tricolore – The tricolor cockade
- Le bonnet phrygien – The Phrygian cap
- La Marseillaise – The Marseillaise (national anthem)
- La guillotine – The guillotine
- Le bonnet rouge – The red cap
- Le faisceau – The fasces (bundle of rods, symbol of unity and power)
Example Sentence:
- La Marseillaise est devenue l’hymne national pendant la Révolution. (The Marseillaise became the national anthem during the Revolution.)
5. Revolutionary Ideals and Philosophies (Les Idéaux et Philosophies Révolutionnaires)
These words describe the political and social ideals that were at the core of the Revolution.
- Les Lumières (f) – The Enlightenment
- La démocratie – Democracy
- Le droit naturel – Natural rights
- Le contrat social – The social contract
- L’émancipation (f) – Emancipation
- Le progrès social – Social progress
- L’égalité devant la loi – Equality before the law
- La laïcité – Secularism
- La souveraineté du peuple – The sovereignty of the people
- L’absolutisme (m) – Absolutism
Example Sentence:
- Les idées des Lumières ont inspiré la Révolution française. (The ideas of the Enlightenment inspired the French Revolution.)
6. Social Classes and Groups (Les Classes et Groupes Sociaux)
Key terms for the different social groups and classes that existed during the French Revolution.
- Le clergé – The clergy
- La noblesse – The nobility
- Le Tiers-État – The Third Estate
- Les aristocrates – The aristocrats
- Les bourgeois – The bourgeoisie
- Les prolétaires – The proletarians
- Les paysans – The peasants
- Les Sans-culottes – The Sans-culottes
- Les émigrés – The émigrés (those who fled France during the Revolution)
Example Sentence:
- Le Tiers-État a mené la Révolution contre la noblesse et le clergé. (The Third Estate led the Revolution against the nobility and clergy.)
7. Important Documents (Les Documents Importants)
Here are some of the most important documents produced during the French Revolution.
- La Déclaration des droits de l’homme et du citoyen – The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen
- La Constitution de 1791 – The Constitution of 1791
- Les cahiers de doléances – The lists of grievances
- Les assignats – The assignats (paper currency)
- Le Code civil – The Civil Code (Napoleonic Code)
Example Sentence:
- La Déclaration des droits de l’homme et du citoyen est un document fondamental de la Révolution française. (The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen is a fundamental document of the French Revolution.)
8. Clothing and Fashion during the Revolution (Les Vêtements de la Révolution)
Even clothing had political significance during the Revolution.
- Le bonnet phrygien – The Phrygian cap
- Les culottes (f) – Breeches (worn by the nobility)
- Les sans-culottes – The commoners (literally: without breeches)
- La cocarde – The cockade (ribbon worn to show loyalty to the Revolution)
- Le pantalon – The trousers (worn by the working class)
- La redingote – The frock coat
- Le sabre – The saber
Example Sentence:
- Les sans-culottes portaient le pantalon pour se différencier de la noblesse. (The Sans-culottes wore trousers to distinguish themselves from the nobility.)
Practice Quiz
Test your knowledge of French Revolution vocabulary:
- What is the French term for the “Reign of Terror”?
- How do you say “The Third Estate” in French?
- Translate: “The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen.”
- Who was Robespierre?
- What is the French word for “coup d’état”?
Conclusion
The French Revolution not only changed the political landscape of France but also left a lasting legacy on world history. Understanding the vocabulary surrounding this critical period will help you dive deeper into its events, ideologies, and key figures.
