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French · Vocabulary · B2 to C1

French law vocabulary: le tribunal, porter plainte, l’avocat

French law ranks offences in three levels · pick one
The middle level: theft, fraud, drink-driving. Judged by the tribunal correctionnel; prison up to ten years.
Le volthe theftestisun délit.an offence
luh VOL ay an day-LEE · “Theft is an offence.”Why: Most offences an English speaker calls “crimes” are délits in French law.

Short answer: a court is un tribunal; a trial is un procès. To report a crime you portes plainte (file a complaint). The judge is le juge, the lawyer l’avocat (who pleads, plaide), the accused le prévenu or l’accusé. French law ranks offences as contravention, délit and crime; only the last matches English “crime”. Law in general is le droit; one law is une loi; the criminal code is le Code pénal.

Which court for which offence

Tribunal de police, tribunal correctionnel, cour d’assises

contraventiondélitcrime tribunal de policetribunal correctionnelcour d’assises a fine (une amende)up to 10 yearsjury · le jury populaire
The offence decides the court. Only a crime is judged by a jury of citizens, at the cour d’assises.
Ilhepassegoesdevantbeforele tribunal.the court
eel PAS duh-VAN luh tree-bü-NAL · “He’s going before the court.”Why: passer devant le tribunal = to appear in court.
Le jurythe jurydélibère.deliberates
luh zhü-REE day-lee-BAIR · “The jury is deliberating.”Why: délibérer = to deliberate. The verdict follows the délibération.
Elleshea faithas madeappel.appeal
el a fay a-PEL · “She has appealed.”Why: faire appel = to appeal. The higher court is la cour d’appel.
A case, step by step

Porter plainte, être mis en examen, être condamné

1
porter plaintepor-TAY PLANTto file a complaint
J’aiI-haveporté plaintecarried complaintau commissariat.at-the police-station
zhay por-TAY PLANT oh ko-mee-sa-RYA · “I filed a complaint at the police station.”Why: porter plainte contre X = against an unknown person. Gendarmerie in rural areas, commissariat in towns.
2
la garde à vuegar-da-VÜpolice custody
Ilheestisen garde à vue.in custody
eel ay an gar-da-VÜ · “He’s in police custody.”Why: Usually up to 24 hours; the suspect can see a lawyer.
3
mis en examenmee za-neg-za-MANformally investigated
Le mairethe mayora étéhas beenmis en examen.put under examination
luh MAIR a ay-TAY mee za-neg-za-MAN · “The mayor has been placed under formal investigation.”Why: A step before trial, ordered by a juge d’instruction. It is not a guilty verdict.
4
le procèspro-SAYtrial
Le procèsthe trials’ouvreopens-itselfdemain.tomorrow
luh pro-SAY SOOVR duh-MAN · “The trial opens tomorrow.”Why: s’ouvrir is reflexive here: the trial “opens itself”.
5
plaiderplay-DAYto plead (a case)
L’avocatthe lawyerplaidepleadsla légitime défense.the self-defence
la-vo-KA PLED la lay-zhee-TEEM day-FANS · “The lawyer argues self-defence.”Why: plaider coupable is not used in France; the accused simply reconnaît les faits (admits the facts).
6
condamner · acquitterkon-da-NAY · a-kee-TAYconvict · acquit
Ilhea étéhas beencondamnésentencedà deux ans.to two years
eel a ay-TAY kon-da-NAY a duh ZAN · “He was sentenced to two years.”Why: The m in condamner is silent: kon-da-NAY.
Legal professions

L’avocat, le juge, le notaire

Law in everyday life

Le contrat, l’amende, le bail

le contrat
J’aiI-havesignésignedle contrat.the contract
zhay see-NYAY luh kon-TRA · “I’ve signed the contract.”Why: The final t of contrat is silent.
l’amende
J’aiI-havepayépaidune amende.a fine
zhay pay-YAY ü na-MAND · “I paid a fine.”Why: une amende is a fine. Do not confuse with l’amande (almond), which sounds the same.
le bail
Le bailthe leasedurelaststrois ans.three years
luh BAÏ dür trwa ZAN · “The lease lasts three years.”Why: Plural: les baux. A tenant is le locataire, the landlord le propriétaire.
le droit
Vousyouavezhavele droitthe rightdetovous taire.keep-yourself quiet
voo za-VAY luh DRWA duh voo TAIR · “You have the right to remain silent.”Why: le droit de + infinitive = the right to. se taire = to stay quiet.
Keep going

Related guides

la loiPolitics vocabulary →Le projet de loi, l’Assemblée.a été condamnéPassive →Il a été condamné.vousRegister →Legal French is formal: vous throughout.a / àConfusing words →Amende or amande, a or à.