délit m crime
masculine
In French, crime is expressed as délit m crime. If unsure, use délit m crime. Wiktionary also lists délinquer.
Meaning: specific act committed in violation of the law (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| délit m crime | masculine | |
| délinquer | /de.lɛ̃.ke/ | phrase, verb |
The term refers to a specific act committed in violation of the law. You can use the phrase Crime grave to emphasize a serious crime. Additionally, the word criminel serves as the adjective or noun for 'criminal' (masculine), while criminelle is the feminine form.
Which one should you use?
In French legal terminology, these terms distinguish the severity of offenses. crime refers specifically to the most serious category of offenses (felonies). délit refers to intermediate offenses (misdemeanors), which are less serious than a crime but more serious than a contravention.
Did you know?
- The word crime surprisingly shares a prehistoric root with the word 'sieve'.
- A crime passionnel is a specific cultural and legal concept in France referring to a crime committed in a state of extreme emotional distress, usually involving romantic jealousy.
- Because crime is reserved for the most heinous acts, using it to describe a petty theft in a casual conversation can sound melodramatic or like a joke to a native speaker.
Examples in context
- On m'a volé mon téléphone dans le métro hier.Someone stole my phone on the subway yesterday.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “crime” translations and entries délinquer, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries crime, délinquer, délit, CC BY-SA 4.0.
