loi
/lwa/feminine
The French word for law is loi.
loi refers to any specific rule, statute or regulation that must or should be obeyed. A common way to express that an action is being taken according to or by virtue of the law is to use the phrase en vertu de la loi.
Meaning: any rule that must or should be obeyed (noun)
Which one should you use?
While loi refers to a specific rule or statute, the word droit is used when referring to the legal system as a whole or to a person's legal rights.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Quebec French, loi remains the standard term for law.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of loi is lois. The noun is feminine.
How do you pronounce it?
/lwa/
Did you know?
- The word loi shares the same ancient root as the English word 'collect'. Both come from the Proto-Indo-European root *leǵ-, which meant 'to gather' or 'to pick up'.
- In French, the expression la loi du plus fort refers to 'the law of the strongest'. It is frequently used to describe social Darwinism or situations where power overrides justice.
- French legal tradition distinguishes between loi, which is passed by parliament, and règlement, which is an administrative decree. Using loi to describe a minor office rule can sound unintentionally dramatic.
Examples in context
- Je suis la loi !I am the law!This sentence is useful for expressing authority using loi.Tatoeba #863047 by Micsmithel, translation #862996 by papabear
- Au diable la loi.Fuck the law.This sentence is useful for expressing defiance against the loi.Tatoeba #10708299 by AutoBot, translation #10708295 by AutoBot
- Tu connais la loi.You know the law.This sentence is useful for stating familiarity with the loi.Tatoeba #1623756 by sacredceltic, translation #1619633 by Spamster
- Respecter la loiTo respect the law
- Adopter une loiTo adopt a law
- Le respect de la loi est essentielRespecting the law is essential
- Étudier le droitTo study law
- Le droit du travailLabor law
- Être au courant de la législationTo be aware of the legislation
- La législation en matière d'environnementEnvironmental legislation
- Le Code civil du QuébecThe Civil Code of Quebec
- Étudier le droit en BelgiqueTo study law in Belgium
- Le droit belgeBelgian law
- 297 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas and Emma are discussing a new city regulation.
- LucasC'est une loi très bizarre.It is a very strange law.
- EmmaJe suis d'accord avec toi, Lucas.I agree with you, Lucas.
- LucasEst-ce que cette loi est obligatoire ?Is this law mandatory?
- EmmaOui, Emma pense que c'est sérieux.Yes, Emma thinks it is serious.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “law” translations and entries loi, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries loi, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
