direction
/di.ʁɛk.sjɔ̃/feminine
The English phrase "directorate" is translated into French as direction.
In French, direction is the standard term used for both the department itself and the group of people managing it.
Meaning: an agency headed by a director (noun)
Which one should you use?
While 'directorate' in English often refers to a specific administrative body, the French 'direction' is the standard term used for both the department itself and the group of people managing it.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word direction is a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has three syllables: /di.ʁɛk.sjɔ̃/.
Did you know?
- A French person might use la direction to refer to the steering mechanism of a car, showing how the concept of 'guiding' spans from management to mechanics.
- The word direction is a direct descendant of the Latin 'dīrectiōnem', which originally referred to the act of straightening or guiding.
- In a French company, if you say 'Je vais à la direction', you could mean you are going to the physical office or that you are heading towards a specific destination.
Examples in context
- La directrice financièreThe financial director
- L'administratrice du projetThe project director
- la direction généraleThe directorate general / general management
- La direction a pris une décision importante.The directorate has made an important decision.
- Il travaille pour la direction générale.He works for the general directorate.
- La nouvelle direction est très stricte.The new directorate is very strict.
Example conversation
Léa and Hugo are discussing a work application.
- LéaEst-ce que tu as contacté la direction ?Did you contact the directorate?
- HugoOui, j'ai envoyé mon CV hier.Yes, I sent my CV yesterday.
- LéaC'est super, Hugo !That's great, Hugo!
- HugoJ'espère que la direction va me répondre.I hope the directorate will answer me.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “directorate” translations and entries direction, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries direction, CC BY-SA 4.0.
