Inclusive Language in French: Why It Matters
Languages enrich our lives. They give us the tools to express ourselves, connect with others, and make sense of the world around us. Just as we evolve, so do our languages. New technologies bring new inventions and new vocabulary to describe them. Yet linguistic change is not limited to technological progress. It also reflects our evolving understanding of people, identities, and the world we share.
People whose identities fall outside the gender binary have always existed, and many cultures around the world have long recognized gender diversity in their own ways. Everyone deserves to express themselves authentically and to be recognized in the language they use. Language should evolve with the people who speak it, not leave them behind. This is why inclusive language matters.
Understanding Gender in French
French, like many other languages, is grammatically gendered. Nouns are classified as masculine or feminine, and this grammatical gender influences the forms of articles, adjectives, and other words. When students begin learning French, they typically encounter the pronouns il (he) and elle (she). Unlike English, which has the gender-neutral singular pronoun they, French has historically lacked a widely established, commonly used third-person singular pronoun that is explicitly gender-neutral.
So, how can French accommodate people whose identities are not adequately represented by traditionally gendered language?
From Feminization to Inclusive Language
Discussions about inclusive language in French have a long history. One important part of this discussion has been the feminization of professional titles. Historically, masculine forms were often used as the default, even when referring to women. Feminine forms such as avocate (lawyer) and professeure (professor) illustrate how French vocabulary can evolve to better reflect the people who work in these professions. In 2019, the Académie française acknowledged that the feminization of professions and functions was compatible with the French language, marking an important moment in this ongoing discussion.
However, inclusive language extends beyond recognizing women. It also asks how we can communicate without always assigning gender or excluding people whose identities do not fit into the masculine–feminine binary.
Epicene Language: Inclusion Through Word Choice
One approach is écriture épicène, or epicene writing. This form uses gender-neutral words and alternative sentence structures to avoid unnecessary gender distinctions. For example, instead of madames et messieurs (ladies and gentlemen), a speaker can address an audience as bonjour à toutes les personnes présentes (hello to everyone present). Instead of les étudiants (the masculine or mixed-gender group of students), one could use les élèves (students or pupils), or le groupe (the group). Similarly, l’humanité (humanity) can replace l’homme when the intended meaning is humankind.
Epicene writing can make communication more inclusive without introducing new grammatical forms. However, it cannot address every situation. French grammar is deeply gendered, and not every noun, adjective, or sentence can be rephrased naturally without changing the intended meaning.
Beyond the Binary: Iel and the Point Médian
In recent years, other approaches have gained well-deserved recognition, including the use of gender-neutral pronouns and inclusive written forms. One example is iel, a pronoun formed by combining il and elle. It is used by some non-binary people as a gender-neutral alternative to il and elle, in a way comparable to the singular they in English.
Another approach is the point médian, or middle dot (·), which can combine masculine and feminine endings in writing. For example, the adjectives intelligent (masculine) and intelligente (feminine) can be combined as intelligent·e. In a sentence, one could write "Iel est intelligent·e" to avoid choosing exclusively masculine or feminine written grammatical agreement. The written middle dot doesn't have a single, universally adopted pronunciation. Some speakers use epicene alternatives, while others adapt their speech or use masculine and feminine forms according to their preferences.
These forms can help people express identities that conventional French grammar does not always accommodate. They expand the ways people can communicate and be recognized.
Who Gets to Shape a Language?
Unfortunately, inclusive language in French remains the subject of considerable debate. The Académie française, a France-based institution traditionally associated with preserving and documenting French, has expressed strong opposition to the use of the middle dot in certain contexts, particularly in official and educational writing. The French government has also restricted or discouraged some forms of inclusive writing in particular institutional settings.
Yet French is spoken across countries, continents, and communities, each with its own linguistic practices and experiences. No single institution can fully represent the identities, needs, and perspectives of every French speaker.
This raises a fundamental question: Who gets to shape a language? Should its evolution be determined primarily by institutions seeking to preserve established conventions, or should the people who speak it, including those whose identities have historically been marginalized, have a meaningful role in shaping how it changes?
Languages are not static objects. They are living forms of communication, shaped by the people who use them. Inclusive language invites us to consider not only how French works, but also whom it serves, whom it represents, and whom it leaves out. Ultimately, making room for more people to express themselves authentically is not simply a question of grammar; it is a question of belonging.