Meaning & use
pro-French
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Meanings
adjectivebefore a noun
Supporting or favoring France, its people, or its culture.
Grammar: Usually comes before a noun: a pro-French newspaper. Can also follow a linking verb: The paper is pro-French.
Patterns
- pro-French policy
- pro-French sentiment
- be pro-French
The senator gave a pro-French speech that pleased the Paris delegation.
Many voters in the region are strongly pro-French and want closer ties with Paris.
The company's pro-French hiring policy has attracted criticism from some quarters.
adjectivebefore a noun
Favoring the French language or French customs over others.
Grammar: Used before a noun: pro-French language laws. Can also be used after a verb: She is pro-French in her tastes.
Patterns
- pro-French language laws
- pro-French attitudes
- be pro-French
The new education minister introduced pro-French language laws in the province.
His pro-French attitudes made him popular among francophone communities.
The festival has a pro-French theme this year, celebrating French cinema and cuisine.
Common combinations
- pro-French policy
- The government's pro-French policy has strengthened trade links with Paris.
- pro-French sentiment
- Pro-French sentiment grew after the cultural exchange program.
- pro-French bias
- Critics accused the newspaper of a pro-French bias in its reporting.
- pro-French stance
- The president took a pro-French stance on the issue of EU enlargement.
Synonyms and how they differ
- Francophile
- A Francophile is a person who loves France or French culture; pro-French describes an attitude or policy, not a person.
- pro-Paris
- Pro-Paris specifically supports the city of Paris or its government, while pro-French supports France as a whole.
Opposites
Word family
- pro-French adjective
- The main form; no other common family members.
Commonly confused: pro-French or pro-France?
pro-French vs pro-France
Pro-France is less common and often refers to supporting the country in a specific context, like a sports match; pro-French is broader and more established.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'pro-French' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Option 0 correctly uses 'pro-French' as an adjective meaning 'supporting France or French culture'. Option 1 is contradictory because 'pro-French' and 'anti-French' are opposites. Option 2 is wrong because 'pro-French' is an adjective, not a verb. Option 3 is wrong because 'pro-French' is not a noun; 'Francophile' would be the noun.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “pro-French”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.