Another frequent false friend, especially in competition law and anti-corruption contexts.
⚖️ Bribe in Law: Pot-de-vin, Active or Passive Corruption
The word bribe appears mainly in criminal law, anti-corruption enforcement, or competition law. Establishing who can be held to account here means translating neighbouring notions with care, starting with what it is to be liable.
Examples:
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a bribe → un pot-de-vin
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to bribe → soudoyer
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The director is accused of having offered a bribe → Le directeur général est accusé d’avoir proposé un pot-de-vin
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The company tried to bribe the government official → La société a essayé de soudoyer le représentant de l’État
⚠️ Do Not Confuse with bribe (in French)
In French, bribe means a small fragment or portion of something (e.g. une bribe de conversation).
This is a classic false friend: in legal contexts, mistranslating bribe as “bribe” in French creates a total misunderstanding.
✅ In Summary
| English term |
Correct French translation |
To avoid |
| bribe (noun) |
pot-de-vin |
bribe (in French sense) |
| to bribe (verb) |
soudoyer |
offrir une bribe |
| anti-bribery laws |
lois anticorruption |
lois contre les bribes |
📌 TransLex’s Advice
Before translating bribe, ask yourself two simple questions:
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Is the context criminal law or a sensitive commercial environment?
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Would the French word bribe make any sense here? (Often: no.)
👉 In case of doubt, the correct rendering is usually pot-de-vin for the noun and soudoyer for the verb.
❓ FAQ: the false friend "bribe"
Why is "bribe" a false friend for French speakers?
Because the French word bribe means a small fragment, as in "une bribe de conversation". The English bribe is something entirely different — an unlawful payment — so a literal carry-over creates a complete misreading in an anti-corruption file.
What are the correct French renderings of "bribe"?
The noun bribe becomes pot-de-vin and the verb to bribe becomes soudoyer. For instance, "the company tried to bribe the government official" reads "la société a essayé de soudoyer le représentant de l'État".
How do you translate "anti-bribery laws"?
As lois anticorruption. These terms cluster in criminal law, anti-corruption enforcement and competition law, so the French wording should stay within that register rather than echo "bribe".
What quick check helps avoid the trap?
Ask whether the setting is criminal or a sensitive commercial environment, then test whether the French bribe would carry any legal meaning. As it almost never does, pot-de-vin is the safe choice.
