⚠️ Grammatical and legal false friend: sentence ≠ only "phrase"
The word "sentence" is a classic example of a false friend when translating into French. In everyday language, it simply means a phrase (a group of words). But in criminal law, it means "peine" or "condamnation" (penalty/conviction), and its associated verb, "to sentence," means "condamner" (to convict).
👉 Handle with caution, especially in legal translations.
✍️ In common usage: sentence = phrase (grammar)
This is the most familiar use of the term "sentence."
Examples:
- This sentence is grammatically incorrect → Cette phrase est grammaticalement incorrecte
- A sentence must begin with a capital letter → Une phrase doit commencer par une majuscule
👉 In grammar, the translation is straightforward. The trap appears in law.
⚖️ In criminal law: sentence = peine / condamnation
In legal matters, particularly in common law countries, "sentence" refers to the criminal penalty imposed by a court.
Examples:
- To serve a sentence → Purger une peine
- He received a life sentence → Il a été condamné à la prison à perpétuité
- She is currently serving a five-year sentence → Elle purge actuellement une peine de cinq ans
🔨 The verb "to sentence" = condamner (à une peine)
Examples:
- To sentence someone to life imprisonment → Condamner quelqu'un à la prison à perpétuité
- He was sentenced to death → Il a été condamné à mort
⚖️ In arbitration: don't say "sentence arbitrale"
The English term "arbitral award" should not be literally translated into French.
👉 The correct translation in French is: sentence arbitrale
Examples:
- The tribunal rendered an arbitral award → Le tribunal a rendu une sentence arbitrale
- Recognition and enforcement of arbitral awards → Reconnaissance et exécution des sentences arbitrales
✅ Summary
| English term |
Correct French translation |
False friend to avoid |
| Sentence (grammar) |
Phrase |
Sentence (!?) |
| Sentence (legal) |
Peine / condamnation |
Phrase (!?) |
| To sentence (penal) |
Condamner |
Donner une phrase (!?) |
| Arbitral award |
Sentence arbitrale |
Sentence arbitrale (!?) |
📌 TransLex's Advice
Before translating "sentence" into French, ask yourself these three questions:
- Is this a grammatical phrase, or a criminal penalty?
- Are we dealing with a verb or a noun?
- Are we talking about a judicial or arbitral proceeding?
👉 Sentence = phrase in grammar, peine/condamnation in criminal law 👉 Arbitral award = sentence arbitrale (⚠️ not "sentence arbitrale" literally)
