citoyens

Citoyen is the French noun for a citizen, with the feminine form citoyenne and the plural citoyens or citoyennes. In ordinary use it designates a person who belongs to a political community and shares in its rights and duties. The term remains common in French-speaking countries and in discussions of civic life, rights, and participation.

Etymology and sense: The word derives from Latin civitas, meaning city or state, and entered Old French through forms related to cité. Over time, it came to denote a person who belongs to a political community and bears its civil obligations as well as its privileges. The suffix -en is a typical agent-form ending in French, producing a label for a person associated with a group or institution.

Historical usage: In the French Revolution, citoyen was used as a form of address to members of the new republic, promoting equality and republican identity. The feminine form citoyenne and inclusive phrases such as citoyens et citoyennes appeared in revolutionary rhetoric, underscoring universal political participation and the abolition of aristocratic privilege.

Modern usage: Today, citoyen primarily refers to someone who has citizenship and participates in public life. The concept of citoyenneté covers rights and responsibilities, such as voting and civic engagement. The term can carry contemporary political connotations, including republican egalitarian ideals or civic nationalism, depending on context.

See also: Citizenship, civic virtue, droit du citoyen.