Joséphine
/ʒo.ze.fin/
The name Josephine in French is Joséphine. It is the feminine form of Joseph.
Joséphine is a woman's given name, the feminine form of Joseph.
Meaning: feminine form of Joseph (name)
How does it change in a sentence?
The French spelling has an accent on the first e.
How do you pronounce it?
The IPA is /ʒo.ze.fin/. The first sound is like the s in measure, and the last syllable rhymes with seen.
Did you know?
- Unlike in English, where 'Josephine' is common, the French name Joséphine can be shortened to the affectionate diminutive Fifi.
- While Joséphine is a classic name, you may encounter the rare masculine version Joséphin in very old French texts, though it has almost entirely disappeared from modern use.
- The name shares its root with the Hebrew name 'Yosef', meaning 'He will add', a fact that connects the French name to ancient biblical traditions.
Examples in context
- Bonjour, je vous présente Joséphine.Hello, let me introduce you to Josephine.
- Elle s'appelle Joséphine.Her name is Joséphine.
- J'ai rencontré Joséphine hier.I met Joséphine yesterday.
- Est-ce que Joséphine vient avec nous ?Is Joséphine coming with us?
Example conversation
Manon and Gabriel are talking about a friend at a cafe.
- ManonTu as vu Joséphine ?Have you seen Joséphine?
- GabrielNon, je n'ai pas vu Joséphine.No, I haven't seen Joséphine.
- ManonElle est très en retard aujourd'hui.She is very late today.
- GabrielElle doit être occupée.She must be busy.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “josephine” translations and entries Joséphine, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
