French Legal Translation of Vendor: vendeur or fournisseur? A Double-Edged False Friend

⚠️ Context-Dependent False Friend: vendor ≠ only vendeur

The term vendor is often translated too hastily as vendeur.
👉 Yet depending on the context—particularly in contract law, IT, or public procurement—vendor can also mean fournisseur or prestataire.

It is a variable-meaning word that must be carefully adapted to the domain at stake.

🛍️ In Retail and Simple Sales Contracts: vendor = vendeur

In retail commerce or straightforward sales agreements, vendor does indeed mean vendeur in the traditional sense.

Examples

• The vendor shall deliver the goods within 10 days
  → Le vendeur s’engage à livrer les marchandises dans un délai de 10 jours

• Vendor’s obligations
  → Obligations du vendeur

🏢 In B2B Contracts and Public Procurement: vendor = fournisseur

In business-to-business contracts, vendor generally refers to a fournisseur of goods or services, or even a contractual partner.

Examples

• Vendor management system
  → Système de gestion des fournisseurs

• Approved vendor list
  → Liste des fournisseurs agréés

👉 In procurement contexts, vendeur would be far too narrow.

💻 In IT and Services: vendor = prestataire

When dealing with outsourcing, software publishers, or technical support, vendor is best rendered as prestataire, which fits contractual French usage more accurately.

Examples

• Software vendor
  → Prestataire informatique / éditeur de logiciel

• Service vendor agreement
  → Contrat de prestation de services

👉 Using fournisseur here could create ambiguity.

✅ In Summary

📌 TransLex Guidance

Before translating vendor, ask yourself:

• Is it a direct sale, supplier relationship, or service provision?

• Does the contract involve deliverables, software, or outsourced services?

• What is the established term in the relevant domain (legal, IT, procurement)?

👉 Vendor may translate as vendeur, fournisseur, or prestataire, depending on context.
👉 Never settle for a purely literal translation.