citoyenne

Citoyenne is the feminine form of the French noun and adjective citoyen. As a noun, it denotes a woman who is a citizen—i.e., a person who holds the legal status and corresponding rights and duties within a political community. As an adjective, it describes something relating to a citizen or citizenship, such as rights or responsibilities attributed to individuals as members of a state.

Etymology and concept: Citoyenne derives from the word cité (city) and ultimately from Latin civitas, indicating membership in a city-state or political community. The modern notion of citizenship combines legal status, civil rights (such as participation in elections), duties, and civic engagement. The feminine form reflects gendered language in French, while the underlying concept applies to all citizens, regardless of gender.

Usage and language considerations: In standard writing, citoyenne appears in phrases like citoyennes et citoyens to emphasize gender equality. In some contexts, discussions about gender-inclusive language advocate forms such as citoyen·ne or other typographic variants to signal both genders within a single expression. In legal and educational texts, the term remains a straightforward designation of a female citizen or of matters pertaining to citizenship.

See also: Citoyenneté, Citoyen, Droits civiques, Égalité des sexes.