Seconde Guerre mondiale
World War 2 in French is Seconde Guerre mondiale.
This phrase refers to the global military conflict that took place from 1939 to 1945.
Which one should you use?
While Seconde Guerre mondiale is the default, you can also use Deuxième Guerre mondiale as a common and correct alternative. For more formal contexts, you may use La Deuxième Guerre mondiale or the specific reference Le conflit de 1939-1945, which refers to the war by its specific years.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase is a feminine noun phrase and is typically preceded by the definite article la (e.g., la Seconde Guerre mondiale). Because Guerre is a feminine noun, the adjective mondiale must agree with it in gender. Additionally, the formal version La Deuxième Guerre mondiale uses the feminine article La for this same reason.
Did you know?
- In French, the adjective mondiale is derived from the Latin 'mundus', which is the same root that gave English the word 'mundane'. While 'mundane' now means boring, it originally meant 'belonging to the earthly world'.
- Using the word seconde instead of deuxième traditionally implies that there is no third item in the series. This suggests the war was the final one of its specific era.
- French writers often refer to the conflict simply as la Guerre with a capital G. This shorthand is frequently used in literature and history to denote the Second World War without needing the word mondiale.
Examples in context
- Dans les livres d'histoire, la Deuxième Guerre mondiale est dépeinte comme un conflit majeur ayant des répercussions mondiales.In history books, World War 2 is portrayed as a major conflict with global repercussions.
- Les historiens s'accordent à dire que le conflit de 1939-1945 a été déterminant pour l'évolution du monde contemporain.Historians agree that the conflict of 1939-1945 was decisive for the development of the contemporary world.
- La Seconde Guerre mondiale a commencé en 1939.World War 2 started in 1939.
- La Seconde Guerre mondiale a duré six ans.The Second World War lasted six years.
- Il étudie l'histoire de la Seconde Guerre mondiale.He is studying the history of the Second World War.
- Beaucoup de choses ont changé après la Seconde Guerre mondiale.Many things changed after the Second World War.
Example conversation
Two students are talking in a library about a history exam.
- GabrielTu as fini tes révisions pour l'examen ?Did you finish your revisions for the exam?
- ManonNon, je dois encore lire sur la Seconde Guerre mondiale.No, I still have to read about the Second World War.
- GabrielC'est une période très complexe à comprendre.It is a very complex period to understand.
- ManonOui, Gabriel, c'est très difficile.Yes, Gabriel, it is very difficult.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries guerre, seconde, CC BY-SA 4.0.
