French Translation

French Translation and Localization

TrueLanguage offers timely, precise French translation and localization services. We can handle virtually any type of translation project. Our team of professional linguists includes native speakers of French and certified subject matter experts who can perfectly translate material following your exact specifications. We use cutting-edge translation and project management tools and follow ISO 9001 standards, guaranteeing efficient, high-quality, and authentic results.

Du français vers l’anglais

Photo of a village in France as flavor for our professional French translations page

Language Facts and Information

French Snapshot

French is ranked at #16 in the world in number of speakers and is the official language in 29 independent nations. French is written in the Latin writing system and the alphabet has 26 letters, uppercase and lowercase, with five diacritics and two orthographic ligatures. French reads left to right. The French language can be heard around the world due to colonialism, and in different regions of Europe due to imperialism.

Francophones of France generally use Metropolitan French (spoken in Paris and considered standard), although some also use regional dialects or varieties such as Meridional French. In Europe outside of France, there are Belgian French, Swiss French, and in Italy Aostan French. In Canada, French is an official language along with English. The two main dialects of French in Canada are Quebec French and Acadian French. French was an official language in Lebanon until 1941, and the main dialect spoken there is Lebanese French or Levantine French.

Other French-speaking regions are the Caribbean (Haiti), Asia (Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam), and Africa.

French is also considered an administrative language and is commonly but unofficially used in the Maghreb states, Mauritania, Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia.

Africa is home to the largest number of French speakers in the world, numbering 120 million people in 24 francophone countries.

French Facts and Trivia

Where it’s Spoken

French is an official language in 29 independent nations, and is an official language (mostly in conjunction with English) of 36 international organizations including the UN, EU, African Union, NATO and the Council of Europe.

Global Statistics

French is estimated to have about 76 million native speakers, about 235 million fluent speakers, and another 77–110 million secondary speakers who speak it as a second language to varying degrees of proficiency, primarily in Africa. The total number of French speakers is estimated to reach approximately 500 million in 2025 and 650 million by 2050. The OIF (International Organisation of la Francophonie) estimates that number will hit 700 million by 2050, 80% of whom will be in Africa.

Impact of French Worldwide

During the 17th century, French replaced Latin as the most important language of diplomacy and international relations, that is, as the lingua franca. It retained this role until the mid-20th century, when it was replaced by English as the United States became the dominant global power.

Regional Variations

Variations in French dialects can range from using different terms for the same thing to dialects that seem like separate languages. This can stem from a desire to personalize or standardize the language globally. African French, for example, has common elements such as an alveolar trill and the incorporation of local language words. In contrast, Quebec French has a standardized system. Still, there is no objective norm because the Office Québécois de la Langue Français believes that further standardization would hinder its mutual understanding with other French-speaking communities globally.

Origin and History

The French language originated from the Latin language spoken by the Gauls, a Celtic tribe that inhabited modern-day France in the ancient Roman Empire. Over time, the language evolved and developed into Old French, which was used from the 9th to the 14th century. In the 14th century, the French language underwent significant changes, including the development of the modern French alphabet and a shift in pronunciation. Since then, French has been used as the official language of France and has been widely adopted as a second language in many countries. Today, French is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world and is considered one of the six official languages of the United Nations.

Summary

Since the French language is constantly evolving, one must have informed and highly experienced professional linguists for producing accurate and culturally appropriate translations. At present, French features approximately 135,000 words and adopts or adds 4,000 new words each year. Will you need French translation and localization that will easily be understood in all regions where the language is spoken? Or do you rather require a regionally specific translation? Select either our TrueGlobal™ or LocalVoice™ approach as appropriate.

Resources

List of Languages by Number of Native Speakers

List of Countries and Territories where French is an Official Language

French Orthography and Alphabet

French Variants

Important Links

TrueGlobal™ and LocalVoice™

ISO 9001 certification standards

Languages Translated

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French Translation