From Bayrou to Bayeux: Why English Politics Still Speak French

Political crises come and go. Watching the latest upheaval in France, with the Prime Minister forced out by a confidence vote, I found myself thinking about the words we use to describe power itself. In English, so much of that vocabulary — from law to diplomacy to the military — comes not from Old English, but from French.

The reason is 1066. When William the Conqueror and his Norman knights invaded England, they brought more than castles and cavalry. They brought their language. French became the tongue of kings, courts, and commanders. Over the centuries, those words filtered into English, and today they still dominate the world of politics, justice, and diplomacy. This is something I often explore with learners in my English courses with CPF in Vincennes, where language history becomes a tool for building vocabulary and confidence.

Government and Administration

The very idea of “government” is French at its roots. These words came with the ruling class and shaped the way authority was described:

• government / gouvernement → from Latin gubernare, “to steer a ship,” a metaphor for steering the state.

• administration / administration → from Latin ministrare, “to serve,” emphasizing rulers as servants of the state.

• council / conseil → a body that advises or decides.

• office / office → from Latin officium, duty or service.

• minister / ministre → literally “a servant,” though today the title suggests high authority.

• cabinet / cabinet → once a small room, then the group of advisors who meet there.

If you are following one of my English courses with CPF, you’ll notice how words like administration still carry a double meaning today — both the act of governing and the people in charge. In my private tutoring in English, I often highlight how these terms reveal the double nature of power: steering and serving.

Law and Justice

Step into an English courtroom, and you are surrounded by French vocabulary. After 1066, French became the language of law. Anglo-Saxon terms survived for daily life, but the institutions of justice spoke Norman French:

• judge, jury (from jurer, “to swear”), attorney, felony, prison.

• justice and equity as abstract ideals.

• parliament (from parler, “to speak”).

• By contrast: law (Old Norse), king, folk, oath (Germanic heritage).

In my e-learning programs, students quickly see that English often pairs the two traditions — plain Germanic alongside elegant French. That’s why we speak of “law and justice,” “right and wrong.” It’s a fascinating way to understand not just language, but history itself.

Diplomacy and International Affairs

For centuries, French was the language of diplomacy. Ambassadors and monarchs negotiated in French, and English absorbed the terminology:

• ambassador, treaty, alliance, sovereign.

• parliament again — the place to speak and negotiate.

• Ongoing French phrases: chargé d’affaires, attaché, entente cordiale.

Diplomatic vocabulary often comes up in my private tutoring in English, especially for professionals who need these words in international contexts. Students are often surprised to discover that they’re already familiar with many of them, thanks to centuries of Franco-English exchange.

Military and Power

The military hierarchy is almost a French phrasebook. The Normans were warriors, and their vocabulary reshaped English military life:

• army, navy, soldier, officer.

• sergeant, lieutenant, colonel.

• battle, siege, garrison, command.

• Older Germanic and Norse words survive too: war, fight, shield, sword, knight.

In my e-learning tools, students often work with texts where these military terms appear in business or strategy contexts — proof that French heritage still echoes in modern English. Words once tied to knights and castles now appear in meetings and boardrooms.

Politics by Other Names

Other pillars of political life also carry the French stamp:

• parliament — from parler, “to speak.”

• crown — the symbol of sovereignty.

• state — from estat, condition or standing.

• policy / politique — a plan of action.

• prime minister / premier ministre — a direct mirror.

• sovereignty — from souveraineté.

When I design English courses in Vincennes, these etymological stories help learners see beyond simple translation. They reveal why English often offers two ways of saying the same thing — one French, one Germanic — and how that richness shapes political vocabulary today.

Conclusion

The fall of a prime minister in France may feel like modern news, but it also reminds us of a deeper story: the way French shaped the very language of power in English. From courts and cabinets to treaties and troops, the Norman legacy is everywhere.

When you study with an English teacher in Vincennes, whether through E-learning or face-to-face classes, you discover that vocabulary is more than a list of words. It’s a history lesson, a cultural key, and a bridge between languages. That’s why in my English courses with CPF, I use these etymological insights to make learning not just useful, but memorable.

Language doesn’t just describe power — it carries its history. And in English, that history is written in French.