This general word list includes words commonly seen in genealogical sources. Numbers, months, and days of the week are listed both here and in separate sections that follow this list. Words with the same spelling and meaning in English and French, such as confirmation or date, are not included in this list.
In this list, optional versions of French words or variable endings are given in parentheses. A few phrases are listed under the key word, not necessarily the first word. Words in parentheses in the English column clarify the definition. Feminine or masculine meanings of French words are indicated by (f.) or (m.).
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A
| à
|
at, to, in
|
| a
|
has
|
| abjurations
|
renunciations of Protestant faith
|
| absolution
|
absolution, last rites
|
| accoucher
|
give birth
|
| accoucheuse
|
midwife
|
| à cet endroit
|
in this place
|
| acheter
|
to buy
|
| acte de baptême
|
baptismal record
|
| acte de décès
|
death record
|
| acte de naissance
|
birth certificate, record
|
| acte de sépulture
|
burial record
|
| adjoint du maire
|
mayor’s assistant
|
| adopté(e)
|
adopted
|
| adultère
|
adulterer
|
| affiché
|
posted (on door)
|
| afficher les bans
|
post banns
|
| âgé(e)
|
aged
|
| ai (ay)
|
I have
|
| aïeul
|
grandfather
|
| aïeule
|
grandmother
|
| aîné (l’aîné)
|
the older, senior
|
| ainsi que
|
as well as
|
| à jour
|
current
|
| Algerie
|
Algeria
|
| alité
|
bedridden
|
| Allemand(e)
|
German
|
| alliance
|
marriage
|
| Alsacien(ne)
|
Alsatian
|
| ami(e)
|
friend
|
| an (année)
|
year
|
| anabaptiste
|
Mennonite
|
| anglais(e)
|
English
|
| anniversaire
|
anniversary
|
| annuaire
|
directory
|
| annuel
|
annual, yearly
|
| août
|
August
|
| apparu
|
appeared
|
| appelé(e)
|
named
|
| apprenti
|
apprentice
|
| approuvé
|
approved
|
| après
|
after
|
| après-midi
|
afternoon
|
| arbre généalogique
|
family tree, pedigree
|
| archives
|
archive
|
| Archives du Royaume
|
state archives (Belgium)
|
| Archives Nationales
|
state archives (France)
|
| a reçu
|
has received
|
| armoiries
|
coat of arms
|
| arpent
|
acre
|
| arpenteur
|
surveyor
|
| arpète
|
errand boy, apprentice
|
| arrière
|
great (as in great-grandparents)
|
| arrondissement
|
district (administrative division of a French département)
|
| attaque
|
seizure
|
| au
|
at the, in the
|
| aubergiste
|
innkeeper
|
| aucun(e)
|
no, none
|
| au dessus
|
over
|
| aujourd’hui
|
today
|
| au même endroit
|
at the same place
|
| auparavant
|
former
|
| aussi
|
also, as, since
|
| autant
|
as much
|
| autorisation
|
permission
|
| autour
|
around
|
| autre
|
other
|
| avant
|
former, before
|
| avant-hier
|
the day before yesterday
|
| avec
|
with
|
| avocat
|
attorney
|
| avoir
|
to have
|
| avons
|
(we) have
|
| avril
|
April
|
| ayant
|
having
|
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Version of Data: 6/8/2001]