Frenglish

Frenglish is a sociolinguistic term describing the mixing of French and English in speech or writing. It arises from sustained contact between French- and English-speaking communities and can take the form of code-switching, loanwords, or calques embedded in a single sentence or text.

The phenomenon is widely observed in bilingual urban settings such as Quebec and other parts of Canada, as well as in metropolitan France with English influence, and among Francophone communities in Africa, the Caribbean, and beyond. It appears in everyday conversation, media, advertising, and online communication, often for pragmatic, humorous, or stylistic effect.

Linguistically, Frenglish features English or French vocabulary integrated into the other language, English words used with French syntax, or calques translated literally from one language to the other. Common examples include phrases like “le weekend,” “le parking,” “un meeting,” or “j’ai un meeting demain,” as well as anglicisms adapted to French spelling and pronunciation.

Attitudes toward Frenglish vary. Some see it as a natural outcome of globalization and bilingual identity, reflecting creativity and practicality. Others worry about language preservation and the dilution of standard forms. In education and media, Frenglish often appears in discussions about language policy, bilingual competence, and stylistic choice.

The term Frenglish is sometimes used interchangeably with Franglais, though usage differs by region and author. Both describe blended French-English communication, but Frenglish may emphasize contemporary, informal bilingual usage, while Franglais is often framed as a historical or cultural critique of English intrusion.