French language

A building with a French inscription

French was a major language of Earth, primarily spoken in France, but also popular in other regions, such as Quebec and New Orleans.

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

In 2000, when Shannon O'Donnell had dinner with Henry Janeway in a supposedly Parisisian 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 the languages she was heard speaking was French. (ENT: "Observer Effect")

Upon hearing Lieutenant DeSalle's French name in 2267, Trelane asked him in French if he was really French and exclaimed "Vive la gloire. Vive 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 dialog, 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" and "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")
• Le Coeur de Lion (VOY: "The Killing Game")

French terms

Phrase	Translation	Application	Citation
Bon appetit			"11:59", "Mortal Coil"
Coup d'état			"The Siege"
Déjà vu
Foie gras
Maitre'd			"11:59"; Star Trek: First Contact

External links

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