Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité


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French Motto

Meaning	Liberty, Equality, Fraternity (brotherhood)
Register	normal
Pronunciation
	[lee behr tay ay gah lee tay frah tehr nee tay]
IPA	[li bɛʁ te e ga li te frʁa tɛʁ ni te]

Usage notes: There were several contenders to the "motto of France" throne that arose during the French Revolution, but in 1958 Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité finally beat them all: it was added to the French constitution and became official.

The French don’t normally walk around proclaiming Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité; it’s more of a written expression. You’ll find it on governmental letterhead and other official documents, stamped onto coins, and carved onto the pediments of public buildings. Some say it should be modified to include a fourth beloved aspect of French culture:

Liberté, égalité, fraternité, laïcité

Liberté, égalité, fraternité is often adapted for issues and causes, by both demonstrators and the media. For example:

Liberté, égalité, accessibilité (disability rights)
Liberté, égalité, actualité (motto of France 24)
Liberté, égalité, frugalité (money issues)
Liberté, égalité, gratuité (free public transit)
Liberté, égalité, maternité (issues related to motherhood)
Liberté, égalité, paternité (paternity leave, LGBT adoption rights…)
Liberté, égalité, solidarité (inclusivity)
Liberté, égalité, sororité (women in male-dominated fields)
Liberté, inégalité, fraternité (varied issues)

In 2007, presidential candidate Ségolène Royal’s linguistic invention (or gaffe, some say) bravitude inspired the derisory Libertude, égalitude, fraternitude.