French Conversation · Level 189
15 words
French word
gendarmerie
Pronunciation
IPA/ʒɑ̃daʁməʁi/
Meaning
- feminine nounmilitary police
Example
Il faut appeler la gendarmerie.
We need to call the military police.
More examples
La gendarmerie mène l'enquête sur l'accident.
The gendarmerie is investigating the accident.
Core concept
A uniformed military police service that handles ordinary policing for communities beyond the main urban centers.
Common phrases
appeler la gendarmerie
call the gendarmerie
poste de gendarmerie
gendarmerie station
Similar words
police: A public organization that protects urban residents and handles crime and traffic.
gendarme: A national police officer serving in rural areas and handling security and traffic.
police nationale: A national police force responsible for crime investigations and public security.
police municipale: A local government police force handling community security and traffic.
Definition in French
Institution à statut militaire exerçant des fonctions de police judiciaire et de sécurité publique, souvent présente hors des grandes villes.
Word origin
The French noun gendarmerie formed from gendarme with the suffix -erie, while gendarme developed from Old French gens d'armes, meaning 'men-at-arms'.
Usage tips
- Gendarmerie names the institution or service, whereas gendarme names one member of it.
Related words
- gendarmegendarmerie officernoun