Understanding political and legal terms in French helps you communicate confidently about government, diplomacy, rights, and global institutions. GuruLango applies Spaced Repetition to help you memorize these concepts naturally and retain them long-term.

Below is a short preview of Politics & Law in French, taken from GuruLango’s 5000-word learning program.

1. Government

A concise list of French terms describing institutional systems and leadership roles.

French Vocabulary

IPA (French)

English Meaning

le gouvernement

lə ɡuvɛʁnəmɑ̃

government

l’État

leta

the state

le président

lə pʁezidɑ̃

president

le premier ministre

lə pʁəmje ministʁ

prime minister

le parlement

lə paʁləmɑ̃

parliament

le maire

lə mɛʁ

mayor

le gouverneur

lə ɡuvɛʁnœʁ

governor

le ministre

lə ministʁ

minister

le fonctionnaire

lə fɔ̃ksjɔnɛʁ

civil servant

l’administration

ladministʁasjɔ̃

administration

la constitution

la kɔ̃stitysjɔ̃

constitution

2. Politics

Terms for political systems, campaigns, and ideological discussions.

French Vocabulary

IPA (French)

English Meaning

la politique

la pɔlitik

politics

l’élection

eleksjɔ̃

election

voter

vɔte

to vote

le parti politique

lə paʁti pɔlitik

political party

le candidat

lə kɑ̃dida

candidate

la campagne électorale

la kɑ̃paɲ elɛktɔʁal

electoral campaign

l’idéologie

ideɔlɔʒi

ideology

la démocratie

la demɔkʁasi

democracy

la république

la ʁepyblik

republic

l’opinion publique

lɔpinjɔ̃ pyblik

public opinion

le débat

lə deba

debate

3. Diplomacy

Vocabulary for geopolitical relations, negotiation, and diplomatic roles.

French Vocabulary

IPA (French)

English Meaning

la diplomatie

la diplomasi

diplomacy

l’ambassadeur

ɑ̃basadœʁ

ambassador

le consulat

lə kɔ̃syla

consulate

la politique étrangère

la pɔlitik etʁɑ̃ʒɛʁ

foreign policy

la négociation

la neɡosjasjɔ̃

negotiation

le traité

lə tʁete

treaty

les relations internationales

le ʁəlɑsjɔ̃ ɛ̃tɛʁnasjɔnal

international relations

le sommet

lə sɔmɛ

summit meeting

l’alliance

aljɑ̃s

alliance

la sanction

la sɑ̃ksjɔ̃

sanction

le visa

lə viza

visa

4. Department & Branch

Key French terms describing governmental departments and national branches.

French Vocabulary

IPA (French)

English Meaning

le ministère

lə ministɛʁ

ministry

le département

lə depaʁtəmɑ̃

department

le service public

lə sɛʁvis pyblik

public service

le tribunal

lə tʁibynal

court

le conseil municipal

lə kɔ̃sɛj mynisi pal

city council

le service administratif

lə sɛʁvis administʁatif

administrative service

la branche exécutive

la bʁɑ̃ʃ ɛɡzekytiv

executive branch

la branche législative

la bʁɑ̃ʃ leʒislatin

legislative branch

la branche judiciaire

la bʁɑ̃ʃ ʒydisjɛʁ

judicial branch

le bureau local

lə byʁo lɔkal

local office

l’agence nationale

laʒɑ̃s nasjɔnal

national agency

5. Law

Essential terms for navigating the legal system in French-speaking contexts.

French Vocabulary

IPA (French)

English Meaning

la loi

la lwa

law

le règlement

lə ʁɛɡləmɑ̃

regulation

la justice

la ʒystis

justice

le juge

lə ʒyʒ

judge

l’avocat

lavɔka

lawyer

le procès

lə pʁɔsɛ

trial

la preuve

la pʁœv

evidence

le contrat

lə kɔ̃tʁa

contract

le crime

lə kʁim

crime

la peine

la pɛn

penalty

le verdict

lə vɛʁdikt

verdict

6. Right & Obligation

Vocabulary for discussing freedoms, legal protections, and societal obligations.

French Vocabulary

IPA (French)

English Meaning

le droit

lə dʁwa

right

l’obligation

ɔbligasjɔ̃

obligation

la liberté

la libɛʁte

freedom

l’égalité

leɡalite

equality

les droits de l’homme

le dʁwa də lɔm

human rights

la responsabilité

la ʁɛspɔ̃sabilite

responsibility

la protection

la pʁɔtɛksjɔ̃

protection

la citoyenneté

la sitwa jɛnte

citizenship

la participation

la paʁtisipasjɔ̃

participation

l’autorité légale

lotɔʁite leɡal

legal authority

la liberté d’expression

la libɛʁte dɛkspʁesjɔ̃

freedom of expression

7. International Organization

Important French terms for major worldwide organizations.

French Vocabulary

IPA (French)

English Meaning

l’organisation internationale

lɔʁɡanizasjɔ̃ ɛ̃tɛʁnasjɔnal

international organization

l’ONU

lony

United Nations (UN)

l’OTAN

lotɑ̃

NATO

l’OMS

lomɛs

WHO

l’OMC

lomse

WTO

l’UNESCO

ynɛsko

UNESCO

la Banque mondiale

la bɑ̃k mɔ̃djal

World Bank

le FMI

lə ɛfɛm i

IMF

la Croix-Rouge

la kʁwa ʁuʒ

Red Cross

l’Union européenne

lynjɔ̃ øʁopɛn

European Union

l’ASEAN

lasean

ASEAN

These French political and legal expressions give you the vocabulary to discuss institutions, diplomacy, rights, and global organizations with precision. Through GuruLango’s Spaced Repetition method, you can store these terms in long-term memory and use them confidently in conversation or study.

Continue learning with GuruLango to strengthen your French political vocabulary with clarity and confidence.