 |
|
| Share / Tweet / Pin Me! | |
Synonyms and specifications
Have you ever noticed that “France” is called by several different names? Learn the various synonyms and the exact meanings of each one.
1) la France
France is the most common, general term and indicates the entire country, including the DOM-TOM (see below).
Vive la France !
2) la République
“The Republic,” the most patriotic term, refers to France by way of its republican constitution.
Variation: la République française is the official name of the country and is commonly abbreviated as RF.
Vive la République !
3) l’Hexagone
The nickname “Hexagon” refers to the shape of the mainland’s borders and so does not include the DOM-TOM, though curiously it does include Corsica.
4) la Métropole
“Metropolis,” synonymous with l’Hexagone. This is the term inhabitants of the DOM-TOM tend to use when referring to the mainland.
5) la France métropolitaine
“Metropolitan France,” synonymous with la Métropole and l’Hexagone.
6) la France continentale
“Continental France” indicates just the actual hexagon: metropolitan France minus Corsica.
7) la France profonde
“Deep France” refers to rural France: the villages and provincial life found outside of the cities.
la Gaule is the French version of Gallia, the original Latin name of the area that includes present-day France; Luxembourg; Belgium; most of Switzerland; and parts of Italy, Germany, and the Netherlands. The name changed to Francia in the Middle Ages. The term la Gaule doesn’t refer to modern France, but its adjective gaulois is sometimes employed for historical or humorous effect.
les DOM-TOM : départements d’outre-mer et territoires d’outre-mer
Though this acronym for “overseas departments and territories” is no longer accurate,* it’s still the most common term to refer jointly to
- cinq départements d’outre-mer (DOM) : French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte, la Réunion
- un territoire d’outre-mer (TOM) : French Southern and Antarctic Lands
- cinq collectivités d’outre-mer (COM) : French Polynesia, Saint Barthélemy, Saint-Martin, Saint Pierre-et-Miquelon, Wallis-et-Futuna
- une collectivité d’outre mer à statut particulier : la Nouvelle-Calédonie
Synonyms: la France d’outre-mer, la France ultramarine
* It should be DOM-ROM-TOM-COM or DROM-TOM-COM. The “R” stands for région, as all of the départements d’outre-mer are also régions d’outre-mer.
🙂 Vive la France ! 🙂
Listening comprehension
Related features
- Expressions with "France"
- Synonyms for "French"
- French and France vocabulary
- 11 patriotic French expressions
- Bastille Day (reading comprehension)
- Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité
- La Marseillaise
- French newspapers and magazines
- Prepositions with countries
- Symbols and motifs
Share / Tweet / Pin Me!
This free website is created with love and a great deal of work.