French language

A building with a French inscription

"Mr. Data, the French language, for centuries on Earth represented civilization."

– Jean-Luc Picard, 2364 ("Code of Honor")

French was a major language of Earth, primarily spoken in France, but also popular in other regions, such as New Orleans and several African countries. A notable native speaker was Captain Jean-Luc Picard.

NATO was called "OTAN" in French. (ENT: "Storm Front, Part II")

In 2000, when Shannon O'Donnel had dinner with Henry Janeway in a supposedly Parisian setting, Shannon commented that, unfortunately, she didn't speak French, so Henry would have to make the dinner arrangements. (VOY: "11:59")

In 2152, Hoshi Sato answered an offer by Ravis to visit a steam pool on Risa, "Avec plaisir" ("With pleasure"). (ENT: "Two Days and Two Nights")

In 2154, when Sato was delirious due to infection by a silicon-based virus, one of numerous languages she was heard speaking was French. (ENT: "Observer Effect")

When the USS Discovery encountered the Sphere lifeform in 2257, what appeared to be a computer virus caused the universal translator to translate the crew's speech into a chaotic cacophony of languages. As the problem began, Captain Christopher Pike was surprised to hear French coming out of his own mouth, "Pourquoi parlez-vous Klingon?" ("Why are you speaking Klingon?") As Saru attempted to restore order, the computer reported: "Défaillance du logiciel de traduction détecté." (DIS: "An Obol for Charon")

Only Captain Pike's statement was subtitled. The computer's report translates to: "Failure of the universal translator detected."

Upon hearing Lieutenant DeSalle's French name in 2267, Trelane asked him, in French, if he was really French ("Un vrai Français?"). After DeSalle answered positively, Trelane exclaimed, "Ah, monsieur! Vive la gloire! Vive Napoléon!" ("Ah, sir! Long live the glory! Long live Napoléon!") (TOS: "The Squire of Gothos")

In 2268, Cyrano Jones said, "Au revoir," when departing a meeting on Deep Space Station K-7. James Kirk later used the phrase on his own departure. (TOS: "The Trouble with Tribbles")

French was also spoken on 892-IV. One Roman-influenced building on the planet's surface had the words "Honneur et Patrie" ("Honor and Fatherland") inscribed on the facade. (TOS: "Bread and Circuses")

James Kirk used an Earth expression, "C'est la vie," while speaking with Kruge to describe the unfortunate destruction of the USS Enterprise and Kruge's boarding party. (Star Trek III: The Search for Spock)

By the 24th century, French was considered by some to be an archaic language but was still spoken to some extent. (TNG: "Code of Honor", "Family") As a native of France, Jean-Luc Picard was fluent in the language, including folk songs and curses. (TNG: "Disaster", "The Last Outpost", "Elementary, Dear Data")

In 2364, the holodeck character Minuet engaged Captain Picard in a conversation in French. In their brief dialogue, both Picard and Minuet remarked, "Nous sommes tous Parisiens," meaning "Everyone's a Parisian [in spirit]." (TNG: "11001001")

The holographic gangster Cyrus Redblock from the Dixon Hill series of holoprograms said, "Au revoir et bonne chance, mon ami," before he left the holodeck and dissolved in a corridor of the USS Enterprise-D. (TNG: "The Big Goodbye")

Captain Picard said goodbye to Natasha Yar in French following her funeral ceremony on the holodeck. (TNG: "Skin of Evil")

After time traveling from 2368 to 1893 San Francisco, Data identified himself as a Frenchman, and spoke French with a native speaker of the language, Frederick La Rouque. (TNG: "Time's Arrow")

Quark used the French term "objet d'art" when Odo suggested that Morn may have spent his money on works of art. (DS9: "Who Mourns for Morn?")

Odo learned French in late 2374, from Vic Fontaine. The Changeling believed it to be "the language of love". (DS9: "His Way")

The Gigolo in the holographic program Paris 3 (Chez Sandríne) spoke French, using terms such as "ma cherie" and "reculez-vous". (VOY: "The Cloud")

French literature and music

• Auprès de ma Blonde (TNG: "Family", "Final Mission")
• Cyrano de Bergerac (TNG: "The Nth Degree")
• "Sur le pont d'Avignon" (TNG: "Chain of Command, Part II")
• "Frère Jacques"
• Les Misérables

French language establishments

• Café des Artistes (TNG: "We'll Always Have Paris")
• Café Moulin (TNG: "We'll Always Have Paris")
• Le Coeur de Lion (VOY: "The Killing Game")

Usages of the French language

French terms

Phrase	Literal translation	Application, notes	Citation
A la	"in the manner/style of"	Parthas a la Yuta, Chicken a la Sisko	TNG: "The Vengeance Factor", "Time's Arrow"; DS9: "Shattered Mirror"
aide-de-camp	"camp helper" / adjutant		Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
Au contraire	"On the contrary"		"Hide and Q", "Deja Q", "Tapestry"
Au revoir	"Goodbye"		"The Trouble with Tribbles", "Skin of Evil", "The Big Goodbye", "Death Wish", "The Killing Game"
Bon appetit	"Good appetite"	Inviting someone to enjoy a meal	"His Way"; "11:59", "Mortal Coil"
Bon mot	"Good word"	Used to describe a clever story or witticism	"The Outrageous Okona"
Bon voyage / Bon voyage mon ami	"Good journey" / "Good journey my friend"		"Relics", "Thirty Days", "Life Line" / "Encounter at Farpoint"
Bonjour	"Hello"	Spoken by Neelix	VOY: "The Killing Game"
Bureau	Government office	Bureau of Identification, Bureau of Planetary Treaties, Cardassian Intelligence Bureau, Central Bureau of Penology, Federation Bureau of Industrialization, Media Bureau, Space Bureau, Starfleet Bureau of Information
Café	Coffee shop		TOS: "Patterns of Force", et al.
Canapé	Food	Regular and Bularian canapé	TNG: "Journey's End", "Preemptive Strike"; DS9: "Rivals", "The House of Quark"; VOY: "Latent Image"
Capitaine	Captain		TNG: "Hollow Pursuits"
Coup d'état	A sudden overthrow of a state		"The Siege", "The Adversary"
Coup de grâce	A final blow		"The Perfect Mate"
Counting coup			"Code of Honor"
Déjà vu	"Already seen"	Describes either something that has happened again, or a feeling that it has	"We'll Always Have Paris"
En garde	"On guard"	Used for announcing the beginning of a fencing bout or sword fight	"We'll Always Have Paris"; "Hollow Pursuits"
En route	"On route"	Term borrowed by the English language	"A Taste of Armageddon", et. al.
Foie gras	"Fat liver"	A dish made from a duck or goose's fattened liver	"Body and Soul"
Hors d'oeuvre	"Outside the work"	An appetizer before the main meal	"The Big Goodbye"
Joie de vivre	"joy of life"	The outlook of living life joyfully	"Drone"
Madame	"My lady"	A title of respect	"The Price"; "Rocks and Shoals"
Maitre'd		Term borrowed by the English language	"11:59"; Star Trek: First Contact
Maman	"Mom"	Term of endearment	"Where No One Has Gone Before"
Merde	"Shit"	Colorful metaphor	TNG: "The Last Outpost", "Elementary, Dear Data"
mon capitaine	"My Captain"		"Encounter at Farpoint", "Deja Q", "Qpid", "Tapestry"
Moi	"Me"	Spoken by Q	TNG: "Q Who"
Monsieur	"My lord"	Used as a term of formal address for a Frenchman; equivalent to Mr.	TOS: "The Squire of Gothos"; TNG: "We'll Always Have Paris"
Pièce de résistance	"Piece which has staying power"		"Plato's Stepchildren"
Salut	"To your health!"	A general toast	"Family"
Soirée	An evening gathering or party	Term borrowed by the English language	"Ensign Ro"
Tour de force	Feat	Term borrowed by the English language	VOY: "Fair Haven"
Voilà	Many notions, "This is (over)"; "ok" (for an obedience)	Used when showing off something	"Far Beyond the Stars", "Twisted", "His Way", "Remember"

External links

• French language at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
• French language at Wikipedia