Moyen-Orient
/mwa.jɛ.nɔ.ʁjɑ̃/masculine
The English phrase "middle east" is translated into French as Moyen-Orient.
Moyen-Orient refers to the region comprising Western Asia without the South Caucasus, including all of Egypt and all of Turkey.
Meaning: region comprising Western Asia without the South Caucasus and additionally including all of Egypt and all of Turkey (name)
What does it mean word for word?
The term is a compound of moyen (middle) and Orient (East).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In countries such as Lebanon or Syria, French speakers might prefer the term Le Proche-Orient to refer to the Middle East.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because Moyen-Orient is a masculine noun, the preposition à contracts with the definite article le to become au when expressing location (e.g., au Moyen-Orient). Similarly, the preposition de contracts with the definite article le to become du when expressing possession or origin (e.g., du Moyen-Orient).
How do you pronounce it?
/mwa.jɛ.nɔ.ʁjɑ̃/
Did you know?
- The phrase Moyen-Orient is a literal 'calque' of the English 'Middle East', meaning it was built to mimic the English structure rather than using a traditional French idiom.
- The word Orient shares a root with the English word 'orientation', as both come from the Latin word for 'rising', referring to the sunrise in the east.
- The opposite of Orient in French is Occident, which is used as a noun to refer to the 'West' or Western civilization.
Examples in context
- L'Algérie n'est pas située au Moyen-Orient.Algeria isn't located in the Middle East.This sentence is useful for clarifying the geographic location of a country regarding the Moyen-Orient.Tatoeba #13395296 by Rovo, translation #8617887 by Amastan
- Le professeur donna un cours sur le Moyen-Orient.The professor gave a lecture on the Middle East.This sentence shows the use of Moyen-Orient in an academic context.Tatoeba #180648 by nimfeo, translation #19008 by CK
- La guerre froide a également affecté le Moyen-Orient.The Cold War also affected the Middle East.This sentence demonstrates how historical events can affect the Moyen-Orient.Tatoeba #11540292 by Aiji, translation #804225 by Source_VOA
- Au Liban, nous utilisons souvent le terme 'Le Proche-Orient' pour décrire notre région. C'est un héritage historique que nous respectons.In Lebanon, we often use the term 'Le Proche-Orient' to describe our region. It's a historical heritage that we respect.
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gabriel and Manon are discussing their travel plans for next year.
- GabrielJe voudrais visiter le Moyen-Orient l'année prochaine.I would like to visit the Middle East next year.
- ManonC'est une excellente idée, Gabriel !That is an excellent idea, Gabriel!
- GabrielQuels pays du Moyen-Orient me conseilles-tu ?Which Middle East countries do you recommend to me?
- ManonJe pense que tu devrais commencer par la Jordanie.I think you should start with Jordan.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “middle east” translations and entries Moyen-Orient, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Moyen-Orient, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
