French people call the subject 'English' l'anglais.
In France, when referring to the English language as a subject taught in school or any academic context, the term used is l'anglais. This phrase combines the definite article "l'" (a contraction of "le" or "la" used before a vowel or silent 'h') and "anglais," which means 'English'.
Understanding 'L'Anglais' as a School Subject
The use of the definite article l' before anglais is standard when referring to the language itself or the subject. It signifies "the English [language]" or "the subject of English." This is a common linguistic structure in French for many languages and school subjects.
For example, when French students talk about their timetable, they might say "J'ai cours d'anglais" (I have an English class) or "Mon professeur d'anglais" (My English teacher).
Common School Subjects in French
Here is a look at how some school subjects, including English, are referred to in French:
| French Term | English Equivalent |
|---|---|
| l'anglais | English |
| les langues mortes | dead languages |
| le latin | Latin |
| le grec ancien | Ancient Greek |
As seen in the table, l'anglais is the direct equivalent for the subject English. Other subjects also follow a similar pattern, using a definite article (le, la, l', les) before the subject name.
This consistent naming convention makes it easy to identify academic disciplines within the French education system.
