Derivation, compounding, conversion, and borrowing are key French word formation methods.
French word formation involves several key processes that create new words and expand the vocabulary:
- Derivation: Adding prefixes or suffixes to base words to form new terms (e.g., heureux → malheureux, bonheur).
- Compounding: Combining two or more words to make a single new word (e.g., portemanteau, ouvre-boîte).
- Conversion: Changing a word’s grammatical category without altering its form (e.g., un repas (meal, noun) → repas (to eat, verb) in some uses).
- Borrowing: Adopting words from other languages, often with minor modifications (e.g., week-end, le shopping).
Derivation, compounding, conversion, and borrowing are typical methods.
'réécrire' (to rewrite) is a classic derivation example using the prefix 'ré-'.
'porte-monnaie' and 'gratte-ciel' are compound words.
Yes, through conversion (e.g., 'un mail' → 'mailer').
'le week-end' and 'le parking' are borrowed.
Derivation
Derivation is the process of creating new words by adding affixes (prefixes or suffixes) to a base or root word. This can change the meaning, grammatical category, or both.
- Prefixes modify meaning and are not usually detachable in isolation (re-, in-, dé-):
- Example: écrire → réécrire (to rewrite), possible → impossible (impossible)
- Suffixes often create new grammatical forms (-eur, -able, -tion, -isme):
- Example: chanter (to sing) → chanteur (singer), décider (to decide) → décision (decision)
Derivation is forming words using affixes like prefixes and suffixes.
Examples
| Base | Derived (Prefix) | Meaning | Derived (Suffix) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| heureux | malheureux | Unhappy | bonheur (n.) | Happiness (noun) |
| voir | revoir | To see again | prévision | Forecast (noun) |
| porter | déporter | To deport | transport | Transport (noun) |
Typical affixes include -able, -tion, re-, in-.
Derivation can change meaning and/or grammatical category.
Compounding
Compounding joins two or more independent words to form a new unit with a distinct meaning. French compounds can be written as single words, hyphenated, or open forms.
- Noun + Noun: porte-monnaie (wallet), chef-d'œuvre (masterpiece)
- Verb + Noun: ouvre-boîte (can opener)
- Adjective + Noun: grand-père (grandfather)
A compound word is formed by combining two or more words.
Examples
| Compound | Components | Meaning | Form |
|---|---|---|---|
| porte-monnaie | porte + monnaie | Wallet | Hyphenated |
| gratte-ciel | gratte + ciel | Skyscraper | Hyphenated |
| savoir-faire | savoir + faire | Know-how | Hyphenated |
| coin-lecture | coin + lecture | Reading corner | Hyphenated |
porte-monnaie and gratte-ciel are compounds.
No, they can be hyphenated, closed, or open.
Conversion
Conversion (or zero-derivation) changes a word’s grammatical function without adding affixes or altering its form.
- Nouns become verbs, verbs become nouns, and so on.
- Common in informal and modern usage.
Conversion means changing a word’s class without changing its form.
Examples
| Original (Noun) | New Verb | Usage (Verb) |
|---|---|---|
| un mail | mailer | To email (someone) |
| un coup | coup (verb*) | To do something (colloq.) |
| Original (Verb) | New Noun | Usage (Noun) |
| ----------------- | ----------------- | ----------------------- |
| boire (to drink) | un boire | A drink (occasion) |
Note: Some "conversion" uses may be informal or jargon.
Yes, conversion allows nouns to become verbs without form change.
Yes, that is conversion.
Borrowing
Borrowing incorporates words from other languages, often adapting pronunciation or spelling. French has borrowed extensively from English, Latin, German, and others.
- Most borrowed words are from English today: le weekend, le parking, le email
- Some borrowings are adapted with French endings: manager → le manager
A borrowed word is adopted from another language.
Examples
| Borrowed Word | Origin | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| le week-end | English | Weekend | Unchanged |
| le parking | English | Parking lot | Unchanged |
| le sandwich | English | Sandwich | Unchanged |
| le smoothie | English | Smoothie | Unchanged |
'le weekend', 'le parking', and 'le sandwich' are borrowed from English.
No, they may be adapted to French phonology or morphology.
Conclusion
French word formation is a dynamic system that includes derivation, compounding, conversion, and borrowing. These processes allow the language to grow and adapt, creating new meanings and bridging with other languages.
- Derivation uses affixes to form related words.
- Compounding joins words to make new concepts.
- Conversion shifts word classes without changing word forms.
- Borrowing enriches French with foreign words.
Yes, affixation (derivation) is essential in French word formation.
Yes, through conversion.
'porte-monnaie' and 'gratte-ciel' are classic compound words.
Yes, especially for modern concepts like 'le weekend' and 'le parking'.