French Capitalization Rules: When to Use Capital Letters

French capitalization rules can be tricky, especially for English speakers. Unlike English, French uses fewer capital letters, but there are still important rules to follow.

Let's explore when to capitalize in French, focusing on compass points, honorifics, nationalities, and place names.

Compass Points

When to Capitalize

Use capital letters for compass points when referring to specific regions:

• L'Ouest américain est connu pour ses paysages spectaculaires. (The American West is known for its spectacular landscapes.)
• Le Nord de la France est réputé pour sa cuisine. (Northern France is famous for its cuisine.)

When Not to Capitalize

Don't capitalize compass points when indicating directions:

• Tournez à l'ouest au prochain carrefour. (Turn west at the next intersection.)
• Le soleil se lève à l'est. (The sun rises in the east.)

Honorifics

When to Capitalize

Capitalize honorifics when directly addressing someone:

• Bonjour Monsieur Dupont, comment allez-vous ? (Hello Mr. Dupont, how are you?)
• Merci beaucoup, Docteur Martin. (Thank you very much, Doctor Martin.)

When Not to Capitalize

Don't capitalize honorifics when referring to someone:

• J'ai un rendez-vous avec le docteur Martin demain. (I have an appointment with Doctor Martin tomorrow.)
• Avez-vous vu monsieur Dupont aujourd'hui ? (Have you seen Mr. Dupont today?)

Nationalities

When to Capitalize

Capitalize nationalities when used as nouns:

• Les Italiens sont réputés pour leur cuisine. (Italians are known for their cuisine.)
• J'ai rencontré une Canadienne hier soir. (I met a Canadian woman last night.)

When Not to Capitalize

Don't capitalize nationalities when used as adjectives:

• J'adore la cuisine italienne. (I love Italian cuisine.)
• Elle parle couramment l'anglais canadien. (She speaks Canadian English fluently.)

Places and Their Products

When to Capitalize

Always capitalize place names:

• Paris est la capitale de la France. (Paris is the capital of France.)
• La Champagne est une région viticole célèbre. (Champagne is a famous wine-growing region.)

When Not to Capitalize

Don't capitalize products named after places:

• Nous avons bu du champagne pour célébrer. (We drank champagne to celebrate.)
• Le camembert est un fromage normand. (Camembert is a cheese from Normandy.)

By mastering these capitalization rules, you'll improve your written French and avoid common mistakes. Practice these rules regularly to make them second nature.

At leçon.ai, we offer personalized lessons to help you perfect your French writing skills, including capitalization rules. Our AI-powered platform provides instant feedback on your writing, helping you learn more efficiently.