vide de pouvoir
The English phrase "power vacuum" is translated into French as vide de pouvoir.
vide de pouvoir is used in political and geopolitical contexts to describe a situation where a government or authority has collapsed, leaving a void.
Meaning: lack of political authority (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of vide (vacuum/void), de (of) and pouvoir (power).
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun vide is the part of the phrase that takes the plural marker s to form vides de pouvoir (power vacuums).
Did you know?
- The word pouvoir contains a v that was added later in history just to make the word easier to pronounce by breaking a gap between two vowels.
- While 'power' in English is often an abstract concept, the French pouvoir functions both as a noun meaning 'power' and as a verb meaning 'to be able to'.
- In French, pouvoir can refer to political power or a legal power of attorney, showing that authority and legality are linguistically linked.
Examples in context
- Les soulèvements populaires peuvent créer un vide de pouvoir dangereux.Popular uprisings can create a dangerous power vacuum.
- Le pays est en plein vide de pouvoir.The country is in the middle of a power vacuum.
- Ce vide de pouvoir risque d'attirer la violence.This power vacuum risks attracting violence.
- Personne ne veut remplir ce vide de pouvoir.Nobody wants to fill this power vacuum.
Example conversation
Emma and Nathan are discussing the news on their television.
- EmmaRegarde, la situation politique est instable.Look, the political situation is unstable.
- NathanOui, ce vide de pouvoir est inquiétant.Yes, this power vacuum is worrying.
- EmmaL'armée ne semble pas vouloir intervenir.The army does not seem to want to intervene.
- NathanC'est une période très dangereuse pour eux.It is a very dangerous period for them.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, pouvoir, vide, CC BY-SA 4.0.
