Finance Vocabulary in French
A collection of finance-related words in French to help English students expand their French vocabulary.
action
action
In French, the word 'action' is used similarly to its usage in English by referring to the act of doing something or a thing done. It can be used in various contexts such as in movies and films (action movie), in sports (action in a game), and in finance (action - stock). Just like in English, it can also be used to describe the process of doing something to achieve something else.
Example sentences with action →argent
money
The word 'argent' is the French translation of the English word 'money'. It encompasses all forms of currency, just like the English term. 'Argent' is used in French in much the same way 'money' is used in English, such as to refer to personal wealth or to the cost of items. For instance, 'J'ai de l'argent' translates to 'I have money', and 'Combien d'argent?' translates to 'How much money?'.
Example sentences with argent →avantage
benefit
The French word 'avantage' is used similarly to the English word 'benefit', generally referring to a profit or gain. It can be used in various contexts, such as physical/health 'benefits,' and 'benefits' in finance and economics. Just like in English, it can also be used metaphorically to refer to any kind of advantage or upper hand. For example, in sports, a 'home advantage' would be translated as 'avantage à domicile' in French.
Example sentences with avantage →banque
bank
In French, 'banque' refers to a financial institution that accepts deposits, lends money and offers related financial services. It is used in the same context as the English word 'bank'. For example, 'Je vais à la banque' means 'I am going to the bank'.
Example sentences with banque →carte
card
The French word 'carte' translates to 'card' in English. It is used quite similarly to how it's used in English, like in the context of a business card ('carte de visite'), a playing card ('carte à jouer'), or a menu card in a restaurant ('carte du jour'). It's pronounced kahrt.
Example sentences with carte →Changé
change
The French word 'Changé' corresponds to the English term 'change'. It is quintessential to understand that it is often used in the context of physical or emotional transformation, alternation, or evolution. For instance, 'J'ai changé de maison' would imply 'I changed my house'. However, the context of usage may vary, and it's crucial to identify the conjugation form and the grammar structure associated with the sentence.
Example sentences with Changé →compte
account
The French word 'compte' translates to 'account' in English. It is usually used in the context of situations involving banks, money, email accounts, and numerical counts. For example, one might say 'Ouvre un compte bancaire' which means 'Open a bank account', or 'Mon compte de courrier électronique' meaning 'My email account'. Apart from these, it also refers to taking something into consideration as in 'prendre en compte', meaning 'to take into account'
Example sentences with compte →coût
cost
The French word 'coût' is used similarly to the English word 'cost'. It relates to the amount that has to be paid or spent to buy or obtain something. It could be used regarding the price of items, services, or the consequences of a certain action. Just as in English, 'coût' can be used in various contexts such as economics, psychology, and personal finance.
Example sentences with coût →dépenser
spend
The word 'dépenser' is used in French to refer to the act of spending money, similar to how the word 'spend' is used in English. It can be used in a variety of contexts, for example: 'Je vais dépenser de l'argent' translates to 'I am going to spend money'.
Example sentences with dépenser →Économie
economy
The French word for 'economy' is 'Économie'. It is used in many of the same contexts as it is in English, referring to the wealth and resources of a country or region, particularly in terms of production and consumption. It can also refer to careful management of available resources. 'Économie' is a feminine noun in French, and like most French words, there is a lot of focus on the pronunciation of each syllable.
Example sentences with Économie →facture
bill
In French, the word 'bill' is translated to 'facture'. It is used in similar context as in English, primarily referring to an amount of money owed for goods supplied or services rendered, set out in a printed or written statement of charges. For instance: if you're at a restaurant and you're ready to leave, you would ask for the 'facture'.
Example sentences with facture →fonds
background
The word 'fonds' is used similarly to 'fund' in English. It can be used to refer to a sum of money saved or collected for a particular purpose or the place to which money is directed. 'Fonds' in French is often used in financial and banking contexts, similarly to how 'fund' is used in English.
Example sentences with fonds →lettre
letter
The French word 'lettre' is used in a similar context to the English word 'letter.' It refers to a written, typed, or printed communication, sent in an envelope by post or messenger. It can also refer to a character representing one or more of the sounds used in speech, any of the symbols of an alphabet. However, note that it does not refer to 'letter' in the sense of a letter of the alphabet - that would be 'lettre de l'alphabet'.
Example sentences with lettre →prix
price
The French word for 'price' is 'prix'. It is used similarly to its English counterpart by representing the cost of a good or service. 'Prix' can be found in various phrases, such as 'prix fixe' (set price) or 'prix unitaire' (unit price). It is a common term used in shopping and commerce-related conversations in French speaking environments.
Example sentences with prix →propriété
property
The French word 'propriété' is used in a similar way as 'property' in English. It can refer to a physical building or land owned by someone, or to an attribute, quality, or characteristic of something. For example, 'Elle a acheté une propriété à la campagne' means 'She bought a property in the country'. Likewise, 'La propriété de cette matière est qu'elle résiste à la chaleur' can be translated to 'The property of this material is that it is heat resistant'.
Example sentences with propriété →rencontre
meeting
'Rencontre' could refer to a meeting or an encounter. It can be used to describe the act of meeting someone new or making a new friend.
Example sentences with rencontre →sauvegarder
save
In French, 'sauvegarder' is how you say 'save'. It is typically used in the context of storing or preserving something for future use - just like 'save' in English. For instance, you might use 'sauvegarder' to talk about saving a document or file on a computer, or preserving memories for later. It's fairly simple to use, as it typically fits into sentences in the same way as its English equivalent.
Example sentences with sauvegarder →taux
rate
The French term 'taux' is equivalent to the English word 'rate'. It's used in many contexts such as mathematics, economics, and general usage, where it can mean proportion, ratio, or speed. For instance, 'taux de change' means 'exchange rate' in financial context, while in a general context 'taux de réussite' can mean 'success rate'. As with many words, it's usage often depends on the specific context.
Example sentences with taux →