Let’s learn French Legal Vocabulary

You never know when you might face some trouble and need to get some legal work done. In this article, we take you through legal vocabulary in French. Use them to talk about all things legal and never make a mistake in French.

1. achat

Meaning: the act of buying something

English: purchase

Example: L’achat de leur maison prenait plus de temps que prévu. (The purchase of their  house was taking longer than expected.)

2.avocat

Meaning: someone whose job is to give advice to people about the law and speak for them in court

English:lawyer

Example: Aucun avocat n’était prêt à défendre sa cause. (No lawyer was ready to fight her case.)

3.bail

Meaning: to make a legal agreement by which money is paid in order to use land, a building, a vehicle, or a piece of equipment for an agreed period of time

English:lease or tenancy agreement

Example: On lui a demandé d’évacuer la maison à la fin du bail. (She was asked to evacuate the house as the lease ended.)

4.cadastre

Meaning:an official organization that records information on who owns particular land and property, and whether money is owed on it

English: land register or registry

Example: Il a perdu ses bagages lors du contrôle de sécurité.(He lost his baggage at the security check.)

5.le verdict

Meaning :an opinion or decision made after judging the facts that are given, especially one made at the end of a trial

English:verdict

Example: Les réservations de vols sont toujours complètes à Noël. (The flight reservations are always full during Christmas.)

6.dévis 

Meaning Detailed and estimated state of the work to be accomplished, which constitutes a preliminary draft and not a formal commitment.

English:written quotation

Example: Mary a pris un billet aller-retour pour Paris.(Mary took a round trip ticket to Paris.)

7.émoluments 

Meaning: an amount of money paid for a particular piece of work or for a particular right or service

English:fees

Example: Il voulait prendre un aller simple pour Mars et ne jamais revenir(He wanted to take a one way ticket to Mars, and never return.)

8.le juge 

Meaning a person who is in charge of a trial in a court and decides how a person who is guilty of a crime should be punished, or who makes decisions on legal matters

English:judge

Example: Les enfants adorent le siège de fenêtre dans l’avion.(Children love the window seat in the airplane.)

9.hypothèque  

Meaning :Real, immovable and indivisible right, encumbered by immovable property to guarantee the payment of a debt

English:mortgage

Example: Il est arrivé à la gare pour se rendre compte que le train était parti.(He reached the station only to realise the train had left.)

10.le cour  

Meaning: a place where trials and other legal cases happen, or the people present in such a place, especially the officials and those deciding if someone is guilty

English:court

Example: Les voyages en train avec la famille sont parfois amusants.(Train journeys with the family are fun at times.)

11.le plaidoyer

Meaning :a statement made by someone in a court of law in which they say if they are guilty of something that they are accused of

English:plea

Example: Le vol devait partir à minuit.(The flight was scheduled to leave at 12 midnight.)

12.testament 

Meaning: Legal act by which a person declares his last wishes and disposes of his property for the time following his death

English:will 

Example: Ils ont perdu leurs bagages à l’aéroport.(They lost their luggage at the airport.)  

13.copropriété 

Meaning: Property rights belonging to several people in one and the same thing

English: co ownership

Example:Il voulait faire une pause dans la routine, alors il a décidé de voyager.(He wanted a break from the routine, so he decided to travel.) 

14.la déposition 

Meaning: Continuer à séjourner dans un lieu ou auprès de quelqu’un

English:statement

Example: Pendant son trek, Paul est resté dans une famille d’accueil.(During his trek, Paul stayed in a homestay)

15.la loi 

Meaning: a rule, usually made by a government, that is used to order the way in which a society behaves

English:law

Example: Catherine était surprise de savoir que son patron lui avait réservé un billet en classe affaires.(Catherine was surprised to know that her boss had reserved a business class ticket for her) 

Now that you have learnt the meanings of these words in French, be sure to use them while you want to talk about something legal in French. For more such vocabulary in French, keep following our blog.

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