French Legal Translation of "Derogatory": désobligeant or dérogatoire? A corrosive false friend

⚠️ Yet another classic false friend in legal translation: “derogatory” does not mean dérogatoire, but rather désobligeant, péjoratif, or even downright injurious.

🗣️ “Derogatory” = désobligeant, péjoratif

In both general and legal English:

derogatory remark → propos désobligeant
derogatory term → terme péjoratif
in a derogatory tone → sur un ton méprisant

📌 The employee made derogatory comments about his manager
➡ Le salarié a tenu des propos désobligeants à l’encontre de son supérieur.

❌ Absolutely not to be confused with “dérogatoire”!

⚖️ So how do you say “dérogatoire” in English?

Depending on the legal context, two main options are used:

✅ exception
By way of an exception to Section 15
→ Par dérogation aux stipulations de l’article 15
✅ exemption
He was granted a tax exemption
→ Une dérogation fiscale lui a été accordée

🚫 The typical trap: “derogatory conditions”

Translating conditions dérogatoires as derogatory conditions would amount to… an insult to your translation.

✅ Prefer instead:

exceptional conditions
special terms

depending on the formality required.

🧠 Key takeaway

Derogatory = péjoratif, désobligeant
Dérogatoire = exception or exemption (context-dependent)
Conditions dérogatoires ≠ derogatory conditions

👉 A striking example of how false familiarity can conceal a real legal mistranslation.

❓ FAQ: The false friend "derogatory"

Does "derogatory" mean dérogatoire in French?

No — it is a classic false friend. "Derogatory" means disparaging or insulting, rendered in French as désobligeant or péjoratif. A "derogatory remark" is un propos désobligeant, with nothing to do with departing from a rule.

How do you say dérogatoire in English then?

Use exception or exemption depending on context. "By way of an exception to Section 15" conveys a contractual derogation, while une dérogation fiscale becomes a tax exemption. The register and degree of formality guide the choice.

Why is "derogatory conditions" the wrong translation of conditions dérogatoires?

Because the calque suggests insulting terms rather than terms departing from the general regime. The accurate options are exceptional conditions or special terms, depending on how formal the drafting needs to be.

What should a translator check before using "derogatory"?

Whether the word describes hostile speech (désobligeant, péjoratif) or whether the source actually means dérogatoire. False familiarity here conceals a genuine legal mistranslation if the term is rendered mechanically.