ranskalaisten

Ranskalaisten is the genitive plural of ranskalaiset, the Finnish term for the French people. In Finnish usage it appears in phrases such as Ranskalaisten kulttuuri (the culture of the French) or Ranskalaisten historia (the history of the French).

Population and distribution: The core population resides in France (Metropolitan France) with about 67 million inhabitants. French diasporas are present worldwide, notably in Canada (Quebec), Belgium, Switzerland, the United States, and former colonies in Africa, the Caribbean, and the Indian Ocean.

Language and culture: The French language (français) is the official language of France and widely used in international affairs. French culture is influential in literature, philosophy, cinema, fashion, gastronomy, and the arts. Notable cultural spheres include culinary arts (haute cuisine, patisserie), cinema (Nouvelle Vague), and philosophy (Descartes, Voltaire, Camus).

History: The modern French nation emerged from medieval Gaul and Frankish settlements, culminating in the Kingdom of France, the French Republics, and the French Revolution (1789). Since the 19th century, France became a major European power and a colonial empire. The contemporary French Republic emphasizes republican values and the French language as a unifying national symbol.

In Finnish linguistic and cultural contexts, the term Ranskalaisten is primarily used to refer to the people of France and their culture within Finnish discourse.