franc

See also: Franc, frânc, and franc.

English

Alternative forms

• frank (obsolete)

Etymology

From French franc. Doublet of Frank, frank, and farang.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /fɹæŋk/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -æŋk
• Homophones: frank, Frank

Noun

franc (plural francs)

1. A former unit of currency of France, Belgium and Luxembourg, replaced by the euro.

   The last 50 franc note, released in 1993, features Saint-Exupéry and a depiction of The Little Prince.

2. Any of several units of currency, some of which are multi-national (West African CFA Franc (XOF), Central African CFA Franc (XAF), the Swiss franc (CHF)) while others are national currencies.

Usage notes

The word franc is abbreviated 'F' in ISO 4217 currency codes, usually prepended by the country's 2-letter alpha code in the case of national currencies:

• BIF: Burundi Franc
• CDF: Congolese Franc
• CHF: Swiss franc
• DJF: Djibouti Franc
• GNF: Guinean Franc
• KMF: Comorian Franc
• RAF: Rwandan Franc
• XAF: Central African Franc
• XOF: West African Franc

Derived terms

• Belgian franc
• CFA franc
• CFP franc
• French franc
• old franc
• Swiss franc

 

Translations

former currency of France and Belgium

• Arabic: فْرَنْك m (frank)

  Hijazi Arabic: فْرَنْك m (frank)

• Armenian: ֆրանկ (hy) (frank)
• Belarusian: франк m (frank)
• Bengali: ফ্রঁ (phrõ)
• Bulgarian: франк m (frank)
• Burmese: ဖရန့် (my) (hpa.ran.)
• Catalan: franc (ca) m
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 法郎 (zh) (fǎláng)

• Czech: frank (cs) m
• Danish: franc c
• Dutch: frank (nl)
• Finnish: frangi (fi)
• French: franc (fr) m
• Georgian: ფრანკი (pranḳi)
• German: Franc (de) m, Franken (de) m
• Greek: φράγκο (el) m (frágko)
• Hebrew: פְרַנְק (he) m (frank)
• Hindi: फ़्रैंक (fra͠ik), फ्रैंक (phra͠ik), फ़्रांक m (frāṅk), फ्रांक (hi) m (phrāṅk)
• Icelandic: franki (is) m
• Irish: franc m
• Italian: franco (it) m
• Japanese: フラン (ja) (furan) (法 (ja))
• Khmer: ហ្វ្រង្ក (frɑng)
• Korean: 프랑 (ko) (peurang)
• Lao: ຝລັ່ງ (fa lang)
• Lithuanian: frankas m
• Luxembourgish: Frang m
• Macedonian: франк m (frank)
• Malay: franc
• Marathi: फ्रांक m (phrāṅka)
• Persian: فرانک (fa) (ferânk)
• Polish: frank (pl) m
• Portuguese: franco (pt) m
• Romanian: franc (ro) m
• Russian: франк (ru) m (frank)
• Serbo-Croatian:

  Cyrillic: фра̏нак m

  Roman: frȁnak (sh) m

• Spanish: franco (es) m
• Swedish: franc (sv) c
• Thai: ฟรังค์ (frang)
• Ukrainian: франк m (frank)
• Vietnamese: phật lăng, phrăng, frăng

any of several units of currency

• Arabic: فْرَنْك m (frank)
• Armenian: ֆրանկ (hy) (frank)
• Catalan: franc (ca)
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 法郎 (zh) (fǎláng)

• Czech: frank (cs) m
• Danish: franc c
• Finnish: frangi (fi)
• French: franc (fr) m
• German: Franken (de) m
• Greek: φράγκο (el) m (frágko)
• Hebrew: פרנק (he)
• Hindi: फ़्रैंक (fra͠ik), फ्रैंक (phra͠ik), फ़्रांक m (frāṅk), फ्रांक (hi) m (phrāṅk)
• Icelandic: franki (is) m
• Irish: franc m
• Japanese: フラン (ja) (furan) (法 (ja))
• Korean: 프랑 (ko) (peurang)
• Macedonian: франк m (frank)
• Maori: pereke
• Navajo: Swis bikéyah bi-fwą
• Polish: frank (pl) m
• Portuguese: franco (pt) m
• Romanian: franc (ro) m
• Russian: франк (ru) m (frank)
• Serbo-Croatian:

  Cyrillic: фра̏нак m

  Roman: frȁnak (sh) m

• Thai: ฟรังค์ (frang)

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Translations to be checked

• Esperanto: ^{(please verify)} franko (eo)
• Estonian: ^{(please verify)} frank (et)
• Italian: ^{(please verify)} franco (it) m
• Spanish: ^{(please verify)} franco (es) m

Anagrams

• ARFCN, cfRNA

Catalan

Etymology

From Late Latin Francus, perhaps via Old French franc.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): (Central) [ˈfɾaŋ]
• IPA^(key): (Balearic, Valencia) [ˈfɾaŋk]

• Audio (Valencia):

  (file)

Adjective

franc (feminine franca, masculine plural francs, feminine plural franques)

1. free, exempt
2. frank, unrestrained
3. (historical) Frankish

Derived terms

• de franc
• francament
• francbord
• franquejar
• franquer
• franquesa
• franquet
• franquia
• franquícia

 

Noun

franc m (plural francs)

1. franc (currency)

Noun

franc m (plural francs, feminine franca)

1. Frank (one of the Franks)

Related terms

• França
• francès
• fràncic

 

Further reading

• “franc” in Diccionari de la llengua catalana, segona edició, Institut d’Estudis Catalans.
• “franc”, in Gran Diccionari de la Llengua Catalana, Grup Enciclopèdia Catalana, 2024
• “franc” in Diccionari normatiu valencià, Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua.
• “franc” in Diccionari català-valencià-balear, Antoni Maria Alcover and Francesc de Borja Moll, 1962.

Danish

Etymology

Borrowed from French franc.

Noun

franc c (singular definite francen, plural indefinite franc)

1. franc (currency)

Declension

Declension of franc

common gender	Singular		Plural
	indefinite	definite	indefinite	definite
nominative	franc	francen	franc francs	francene
genitive	francs	francens	francs francs'	francenes

Derived terms

• belgierfranc
• schweizerfranc

References

• “franc” in Den Danske Ordbog

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /fʁɑ̃/

• Audio:

  (file)

Etymology 1

Inherited from Middle French franc, from Old French franc (“free, genuine, sincere”), from Late Latin Francus (“a Frank”), from Frankish *Frank (“a Frank”), a name probably taken from Proto-Germanic *frankô, *frakkōn (“spear”), from Proto-Indo-European *preng-, *pregn- (“pole, stalk”). Cognate with Old Norse frakka (“javelin, throwing spit”), Old English franca (“javelin, lance”).

Adjective

franc (feminine franche, masculine plural francs, feminine plural franches)

1. free

   Synonym: libre

   Il a fait cette action de sa pure et franche volonté.

   His action was performed out of his free will.

2. frank
3. full

   Synonyms: entier, complet, plein

   4 jours francs ― 4 full days

4. tax-free

   Port franc ― Free port

Derived terms

• à franc étrier
• avoir les coudées franches
• coup franc
• franc comme l’or
• franchement
• franchise
• moineau franc
• perche franche

 

Etymology 2

Inherited from Middle French franc, from Early Medieval Latin Francus (“a Frank”), from Frankish *Frank (“a Frank”) (see Etymology 1). Compare also Old High German Franko (“a Frank”), Old English Franca (“a Frank”). See also Feringhee.

Noun

franc m (plural francs)

1. (monetary) franc

   Synonym: balle

2. Frank

Derived terms

• franc belge
• franc CFA
• franc français
• franc suisse

 

Descendants

• → Afar: faranká
• → Persian: فرانک (ferânk)
• → Ottoman Turkish: فرانق (frank)
  • Turkish: frank

Adjective

franc (feminine franque, masculine plural francs, feminine plural franques)

1. Frankish, Franconian

See also

• (money): sou

Further reading

• “franc”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.

Hungarian

Etymology

From Latin Francī, plural of Francus (“Frank, French”). The noun meaning "syphilis" possibly derives from the noun phrase franc betegség ("French disease").

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈfrɒnt͡s]
• Rhymes: -ɒnt͡s

Adjective

franc (not comparable)

1. (obsolete) French

Noun

franc (countable and uncountable, plural francok)

1. (obsolete) French

   Synonym: francia

2. (archaic) syphilis

   Synonyms: vérbaj, szifilisz

3. (slang or vulgar) damn, hell

   Synonyms: (colloquial or slang) fene, (vulgar) picsa

   A francba! ― Damn/Shit!

   Menj a francba! ― Go to hell!

4. (slang or vulgar) the heck, the hell (expletive used for emphasis after an interrogative term)

   Synonyms: (colloquial or slang) fene, (vulgar) picsa

   Hogy a francba fogod kifizetni az adósságodat? ― How the heck are you going to pay your debt?

   Mi a franc van ezzel a tévével? ― What the heck is with this television?

   Mi a francért/francnak akar idejönni ez a nyavalyás? ― Why the heck does this bastard want to come here?

   Ki a francot érdekel ez a marhaság? ― Who the heck is interested in this rubbish?

Declension

Inflection (stem in -o-, back harmony)
	singular	plural
nominative	franc	francok
accusative	francot	francokat
dative	francnak	francoknak
instrumental	franccal	francokkal
causal-final	francért	francokért
translative	franccá	francokká
terminative	francig	francokig
essive-formal	francként	francokként
essive-modal	—	—
inessive	francban	francokban
superessive	francon	francokon
adessive	francnál	francoknál
illative	francba	francokba
sublative	francra	francokra
allative	franchoz	francokhoz
elative	francból	francokból
delative	francról	francokról
ablative	franctól	francoktól
non-attributive possessive - singular	francé	francoké
non-attributive possessive - plural	francéi	francokéi

Possessive forms of franc
possessor	single possession	multiple possessions
1st person sing.	francom	francaim
2nd person sing.	francod	francaid
3rd person sing.	franca	francai
1st person plural	francunk	francaink
2nd person plural	francotok	francaitok
3rd person plural	francuk	francaik

Derived terms

• francba

 

Further reading

• ((archaic) “syphilis”; now: expletive): franc in Bárczi, Géza and László Országh. A magyar nyelv értelmező szótára (“The Explanatory Dictionary of the Hungarian Language”, abbr.: ÉrtSz.). Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 1959–1962. Fifth ed., 1992: →ISBN
• (“French [person]”; archaic/obsolete, folksy): franc in Bárczi, Géza and László Országh. A magyar nyelv értelmező szótára (“The Explanatory Dictionary of the Hungarian Language”, abbr.: ÉrtSz.). Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 1959–1962. Fifth ed., 1992: →ISBN

Middle French

Noun

franc m (plural frans)

1. franc (unit of currency)

Adjective

franc m (feminine singular franche, masculine plural frans, feminine plural franches)

1. noble

Norman

Etymology

From Old French franc (“free, genuine, sincere”), from Late Latin Franc (“a Frank”), of Frankish origin.

Adjective

franc m

1. (Jersey) frank

Derived terms

• franchement (“frankly”)

Norwegian Nynorsk

Noun

franc m (plural francen)

1. franc

References

• “franc” in The Nynorsk Dictionary.

Old French

Etymology

From Latin Francus, thought to be from Frankish.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈfɾank/
• Rhymes: -ank

Adjective

franc m (oblique and nominative feminine singular franche)

1. French
2. free
3. noble; of noble descent
4. brave; valiant

Declension

Declension of franc

Number	Case	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Singular	Subject	frans	franche, or less common france	franc
	Oblique	franc			franche, or less common france	franc
Plural	Subject	franc	franches, or less common frances		franc
	Oblique	frans			franches, or less common frances	franc

Descendants

• → English: frank
• French: franc
• → Middle High German: franc
• Norman: franc (Jersey)
• Persian: فرنگ (farang)

Romanian

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /fraŋk/

Etymology 1

Borrowed from French Franc. Doublet of frânc.

Noun

franc m (plural franci)

1. a Frank (Germanic tribe)

Declension

Declension of franc

	singular		plural
	indefinite articulation	definite articulation	indefinite articulation	definite articulation
nominative/accusative	(un) franc	francul	(niște) franci	francii
genitive/dative	(unui) franc	francului	(unor) franci	francilor
vocative	francule		francilor

Adjective

franc m or n (feminine singular francă, masculine plural franci, feminine and neuter plural france)

1. of a Frank, Frankish

Declension

Declension of franc

		singular			plural
		masculine	neuter	feminine	masculine	neuter	feminine
nominative/ accusative	indefinite	franc		francă	franci	france
	definite	francul		franca	francii	francele
genitive/ dative	indefinite	franc		france	franci	france
	definite	francului		francei	francilor	francelor

Related terms

• frânc

See also

• francez

Etymology 2

Borrowed from French franc (noun).

Noun

franc m (plural franci)

1. (numismatics) a franc (currency)

Declension

Declension of franc

	singular		plural
	indefinite articulation	definite articulation	indefinite articulation	definite articulation
nominative/accusative	(un) franc	francul	(niște) franci	francii
genitive/dative	(unui) franc	francului	(unor) franci	francilor
vocative	francule		francilor

Etymology 3

Borrowed from French franc (adjective).

Adjective

franc m or n (feminine singular francă, masculine plural franci, feminine and neuter plural france)

1. frank, sincere, honest

Declension

Declension of franc

		singular			plural
		masculine	neuter	feminine	masculine	neuter	feminine
nominative/ accusative	indefinite	franc		francă	franci	france
	definite	francul		franca	francii	francele
genitive/ dative	indefinite	franc		france	franci	france
	definite	francului		francei	francilor	francelor