remise des diplômes
In French, graduation is expressed as remise des diplômes.
The term remise des diplômes refers specifically to a commencement ceremony. To express the act of obtaining one's diploma, you can use the formal phrase Obtenir son diplôme. If you want to say someone has passed their final exams, the formal way is Réussir son examen de fin d'études. In an informal context, you can say Avoir son diplôme en poche to mean having one's diploma in hand.
Meaning: a commencement ceremony (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase remise des diplômes is composed of remise (handing over or presentation) and des diplômes (of the diplomas).
Which one should you use?
It is important to distinguish between the event and the object: while remise des diplômes refers to the ceremony itself, diplôme refers to the actual degree or certificate received.
Did you know?
- Unlike in the US, the remise des diplômes ceremony is not a universal tradition in France, as many students simply receive their diplôme by mail or pick it up at an office.
- The word diplôme shares a common ancestor with the English 'diploma', both stemming from the Greek 'diploma' meaning 'folded paper'.
- The term remise can also mean a 'shed' or 'garage' in other contexts, showing how the word 'remise' shifts from a place of storage to an act of delivery.
Examples in context
- Que vas-tu mettre pour la cérémonie de remise des diplômes ?What are you wearing to graduation?This sentence is useful for asking what someone is wearing to the remise des diplômes ceremony.Tatoeba #5007700 by michelnialon, translation #5006918 by CK
- Bravo pour avoir obtenu ton diplôme de l'université !Congratulations on obtaining your university diploma!
- Nous sommes fiers de toi pour avoir réussi ton examen de fin d'études !We are proud of you for passing your final exam!
- C'est génial, tu as ton diplôme en poche maintenant !That's fantastic, you have your diploma in hand now!
- Félicitations, tu es diplômé(e) maintenant !Congratulations, you are graduated now!
- Félicitations à tous les diplômés !Congratulations to all graduates!
- La remise des diplômes aura lieu en juillet.The graduation ceremony will take place in July.
- J'ai reçu une invitation pour la remise des diplômes.I received an invitation for the graduation.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a university event over coffee.
- ChloéTu viens à ma remise des diplômes ?Are you coming to my graduation?
- HugoBien sûr, je ne raterais pas ça !Of course, I wouldn't miss it!
- ChloéMerci, ça me ferait très plaisir.Thank you, that would make me very happy.
- HugoOn va fêter ton succès ensemble.We are going to celebrate your success together.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “graduation” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
