French-English Spelling Equivalents
Orthographe française-anglaise
Because French and English have a lot of Latin in them, and also because there is a lot of French in English, there are a number of spelling tricks that can help you to:
- Recognize French words (cognates)
- Spell French words (common spelling equivalents)
But be careful - this chart is just a guideline. As always, there are thousands of exceptions. In addition, you need to watch out for faux amis.
| SUFFIXES | ||||
| French | English | French ex. | English | Related lesson |
| -ain(e) -en(ne) |
-an | Américain(e) Canadien |
American Canadian |
Adjectives |
| -ais(e) -ois(e) |
-ese | Japonais(e) Chinois(e) |
Japanese Chinese |
Languages |
| -ance -ence |
-ence | dépendance violence |
dependence violence |
|
| -ant -ent |
-ent |
dépendant apparent |
dependent apparent |
|
| en + -ant | -ing | en étudiant en lisant |
studying reading |
Present participle |
| -çon | -sson -shion -son |
leçon façon maçon |
lesson fashion mason |
|
| -é(e) -i(e) -u(e) |
-ed -t [b] |
épelé fini répondu |
spelled/spelt finished responded |
Past participle |
| -é -e -i |
-y | qualité gloire parti |
quality glory party |
|
| -el(le) | -al | personnel éternel |
personal eternal |
|
| -er -ir -re |
to + verb | épeler finir défendre |
to spell to finish to defend |
Infinitives |
| -eur | -or [a] -our [b] -er |
auteur couleur employeur |
author color/colour employer |
Professions |
| -eux/euse | -ous | joyeux nerveux |
joyous nervous |
|
| -if/ive | -ive | positif motif |
positive motive |
|
| -ique | -ic -ical |
musique logique |
music logical |
|
| -iser | -ize [a] -ise [b] |
idéaliser formaliser |
idealize/idealise formalize/formalise |
|
| -isation | -ization [a] -isation [b] |
réalisation autorisation |
realization/realisation authorization/authorisation |
|
| -iste | -ist -istic |
optimiste matérialiste |
optimist/optimistic materialistic |
|
| -ment | -ly | évidemment rapidement |
evidently rapidly |
Adverbs |
| -oire | -ory | gloire mémoire |
glory memory |
|
| -re | -er [a] -re [b] |
mètre théâtre |
meter/metre theater/theatre |
|
| -tion | -tion | ration qualification |
ration qualification |
|
|
OTHER |
||||
| é- | s- | état étudier |
state study |
French accents |
| ^ | _s | forêt hôpital |
forest hospital |
|
Symbol key:
(x) Indicate the extra letter(s) needed for the feminine form of the French
suffix.
/xx Indicates the different suffix for the feminine noun or adjective.
[a] Applies mainly to American English.
[b] Applies to British English.
| For further study... |
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