hymne national
masculine
The English phrase "national anthem" is hymne national in French.
hymne national is a masculine noun used to refer to the official national song of a country.
Meaning: national song of a country (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the noun hymne (anthem or hymn) and the adjective national (national).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Belgium, one might use the expression L'hymne national belge to refer to the national anthem.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because hymne begins with a mute 'h', the definite article le elides to l’ in the singular form, resulting in l’hymne national. When using the plural, the adjective national changes to nationaux to match the masculine noun, forming les hymnes nationaux.
Did you know?
- In France, it is considered a sign of respect to stand still and remain silent while l’hymne national is played, but unlike in the US, it is not customary to place one's hand over the heart.
- The word hymne was originally pronounced without the final 'n' sound, similar to the modern pronunciation of automne. The current pronunciation changed over time because the spelling influenced how people spoke.
- While the English 'anthem' specifically refers to a patriotic or official song, the French hymne serves a double purpose by describing both a secular national song and a religious hymn.
Examples in context
- J’ai chanté l’hymne national.I sang the national anthem.Tatoeba #2231628 by Amastan, translation #7644722 by karloelkebekio
- Elle chantait l’hymne national.She was singing the national anthem.Tatoeba #2902875 by Amastan, translation #11863384 by Lebensfreude
- Ils chantaient l’hymne national.They were singing the national anthem.Tatoeba #2902889 by Amastan, translation #4680349 by tifhiggins
- 14 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
At a stadium before a sports match.
- ManonTu connais l'hymne national de ce pays ?Do you know the national anthem of this country?
- HugoNon, je ne le connais pas du tout.No, I do not know it at all.
- ManonC'est très solennel quand on l'écoute.It is very solemn when one listens to it.
- HugoJe suis d'accord, c'est un moment important.I agree, it is an important moment.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “national anthem” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hymne, national, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
