Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C. is the French phrase for Washington DC.
The phrase refers to the capital city of the United States of America.
Which one should you use?
In many contexts, French speakers may drop the 'D.C.' entirely and simply refer to the city as Washington.
How does it change in a sentence?
When expressing being in or going to the city, the preposition à is used before the name, as in à Washington, D.C.
Did you know?
- While English speakers use 'Washington DC' as a proper noun, French speakers frequently treat Washington as a metonym for the US government, similar to how 'White House' is used in English.
- The name 'Washington' is treated as a masculine noun in French, which dictates the gender of any accompanying adjectives or articles used in complex sentences.
- When writing the name in a French context, the periods in 'D.C.' are often omitted or replaced by spaces, resulting in the form Washington DC.
Examples in context
- La capitale des États-Unis, Washington D.C., est située sur la côte est.The capital of the United States, Washington D.C., is located on the east coast.
- As-tu déjà visité D.C.? C'est une ville magnifique!Have you ever visited D.C.? It is a magnificent city!
- Elle habite à Washington, D.C.She lives in Washington, D.C.
- Je dois me rendre à Washington, D.C. demain.I have to go to Washington, D.C. tomorrow.
Example conversation
Manon and Hugo are discussing travel plans.
- ManonOù veux-tu aller pour tes vacances, Hugo ?Where do you want to go for your vacation, Hugo?
- HugoJe rêve de visiter Washington, D.C.I dream of visiting Washington, D.C.
- ManonC'est une excellente idée, Manon approuve !That is an excellent idea, Manon approves!
- HugoMerci, on pourrait y aller ensemble.Thanks, we could go there together.
