⚠️ A polymorphic false friend: security ≠ only sécurité
The word security may seem simple to translate — one naturally thinks of sécurité.
But in legal, financial, and contractual contexts, it carries very different meanings, requiring specific translations.
👉 Depending on the context, security may refer to:
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a sûreté (collateral/guarantee in security law),
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a guarantee (contractual obligation),
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a financial instrument (securities: shares, bonds, etc.),
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or, more rarely, safety/protection.
🛡️ In Security Law: security = garantie / sûreté
In contracts guaranteeing the performance of an obligation (loan, credit, surety), security translates as sûreté or garantie.
Examples:
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to provide a security interest → constituer une sûreté
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the borrower gave security for the loan → l’emprunteur a fourni une garantie pour le prêt
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security agreement → contrat de sûreté
👉 This is the correct rendering in civil or commercial law.
💰 In Financial Law: securities = titres financiers / valeurs mobilières
In the plural, securities refers to tradable financial instruments (shares, bonds, derivatives…), equivalent to valeurs mobilières in French.
Examples:
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equity securities → titres de capital
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debt securities → titres de créance
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bearer securities → titres au porteur
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registered securities → titres nominatifs
👉 In the U.S., the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is the counterpart of France’s Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF).
🧯 In General Usage: security = sécurité
In non-legal texts (or those relating to the protection of people, property, or systems), security does indeed mean sécurité.
Examples:
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airport security → sécurité aéroportuaire
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cybersecurity → cybersécurité
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security risk → risque sécuritaire
✅ In Summary
| English term |
Correct French translation |
False friend to avoid |
| security (physical safety) |
sécurité |
garantie |
| security (legal guarantee) |
sûreté / garantie |
sécurité (if misleading) |
| securities (finance) |
titres / valeurs mobilières |
garanties |
| security interest |
droit de sûreté |
intérêt sécuritaire |
| security breach |
violation de la sécurité |
rupture de garantie |
📌 TransLex’s Advice
Before translating security or securities, ask yourself three questions:
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Is it about physical safety, security law, or financial markets?
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Does the term refer to a contractual guarantee, a financial instrument, or a safety threat?
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Is the translation consistent with French law (especially in security interests or financial markets)?
👉 Security may mean sécurité, sûreté, garantie, or titre, depending on context.
👉 Securities = valeurs mobilières / titres financiers.
❓ FAQ: translating “security” into French
Does “security” always map to sécurité?
Far from it — it is a polymorphic false friend. By context it means a sûreté or garantie in security law, a financial instrument in finance, and only sometimes sécurité in the sense of physical safety or system protection.
How is “security” rendered in security law?
As sûreté or garantie. So “to provide a security interest” becomes constituer une sûreté, “the borrower gave security for the loan” reads l’emprunteur a fourni une garantie pour le prêt, and “security agreement” is contrat de sûreté.
What does the plural “securities” mean?
Tradable financial instruments — titres or valeurs mobilières. Hence equity securities → titres de capital, debt securities → titres de créance, bearer securities → titres au porteur, registered securities → titres nominatifs.
When does “security” genuinely mean sécurité?
In non-legal, protection-related contexts: airport security → sécurité aéroportuaire, cybersecurity → cybersécurité. Note that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission corresponds to France’s Autorité des marchés financiers, both regulating titres rather than safety.
