Affaires

Affaires is the plural form of the French noun affaire, meaning matters, business, or affairs. The singular, affaire, refers to a specific matter, a case, a transaction, or a personal concern. In everyday French, les affaires can denote one’s business activities or one’s belongings, as in faire ses affaires or arranger ses affaires. The phrase faire une affaire is used to mean to strike a deal or to complete a business transaction. Common expressions include les affaires étrangères (foreign affairs) and les affaires commerciales (business matters).

Origin: The word comes from Old French affaire, itself from Latin roots, and is cognate with the English word affair. In English usage, affairs is a broad plural noun meaning matters or concerns, as in state affairs, foreign affairs, or personal affairs. The word can also denote a romantic liaison in the singular form (an affair).

Historical note: The Dreyfus Affair is a well-known historical example of the term used to name a political scandal in late 19th-century France. The term is frequently found in journalism, diplomacy, and legal language when referring to matters of public or private interest.

Usage tips: In French, affairs usually refers to multiple matters; the singular affaire refers to a single matter. In English, context determines whether affairs means general matters, personal concerns, or a romantic liaison.