French Word of the Day: Populaire
Yes, sometimes it means 'popular', but not always . . .
Why do I need to know populaire?
While you can use this French word to describe the cool girl from high school, it has several other, sometimes confusing, meanings too.
What does it mean?
Populaire – roughly pronounced pop-you-lair – is a French adjective that technically translates to ‘popular’ in English.
However, the word is oftentimes not used in the same sense that ‘popular’ - as in something or someone liked or admired by many - might be used in English.
While populaire can have this meaning in French too, you will likely hear French people employ the term with its other usages.
The first is ‘grassroots’. You might hear a politician or union leader call for a ‘mouvement populaire’ - this is essentially asking for a grassroots, or people-led movement. You can see this meaning of the word in the Front Populaire governments of the 1930s, which were a coalition of leftist groups. They are commemorated with a Metro station on Line 12.
The other time you will hear this French word is when people are talking about neighbourhoods and city districts.
A quartier populaire is actually a working-class neighbourhood. If you were looking to describe a popular district where people like to hang out you might say quartier branché instead.
Use it like this
Il a grandi dans un quartier populaire de la banlieue parisienne.. – He grew up in a working class neighbourhood in the Paris suburbs.
L'homme politique français a déclaré que "le moment est venu de passer à la censure populaire" après l'échec des motions de censure au Parlement. – The French politician announced that ‘the time has come for a people’s condemnation [of the government] after the votes of no-confidence failed in Parliament.
Comments
See Also
Why do I need to know populaire?
While you can use this French word to describe the cool girl from high school, it has several other, sometimes confusing, meanings too.
What does it mean?
Populaire – roughly pronounced pop-you-lair – is a French adjective that technically translates to ‘popular’ in English.
However, the word is oftentimes not used in the same sense that ‘popular’ - as in something or someone liked or admired by many - might be used in English.
While populaire can have this meaning in French too, you will likely hear French people employ the term with its other usages.
The first is ‘grassroots’. You might hear a politician or union leader call for a ‘mouvement populaire’ - this is essentially asking for a grassroots, or people-led movement. You can see this meaning of the word in the Front Populaire governments of the 1930s, which were a coalition of leftist groups. They are commemorated with a Metro station on Line 12.
The other time you will hear this French word is when people are talking about neighbourhoods and city districts.
A quartier populaire is actually a working-class neighbourhood. If you were looking to describe a popular district where people like to hang out you might say quartier branché instead.
Use it like this
Il a grandi dans un quartier populaire de la banlieue parisienne.. – He grew up in a working class neighbourhood in the Paris suburbs.
L'homme politique français a déclaré que "le moment est venu de passer à la censure populaire" après l'échec des motions de censure au Parlement. – The French politician announced that ‘the time has come for a people’s condemnation [of the government] after the votes of no-confidence failed in Parliament.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.