In 15 Seconds
- Refers to both 'of society' and 'of the company.'
- Used for social issues, business contexts, and board games.
- Placed after a noun to act as a descriptive modifier.
Meaning
This phrase translates to 'of the society' or 'of the company.' It is used to describe things related to the collective human community or a specific business entity.
Key Examples
3 of 6Discussing social issues with a friend
C'est un vrai problème de la société actuelle.
It is a real problem of today's society.
In a business meeting
Voici les nouveaux objectifs de la société.
Here are the company's new objectives.
Texting a colleague about a car
Tu as pris la voiture de la société ?
Did you take the company car?
Cultural Background
The term 'débat de société' is a staple of French media, referring to major ethical or social issues like secularism (laïcité) or labor laws. In Quebec, 'société' is often used in the names of crown corporations (state-owned companies), such as 'Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec' (SAAQ). In many African countries, 'la société' can refer to the extended community or traditional social structures, often carrying a more communal weight than in Europe. The abbreviation 'Sté' is often used in written French to mean 'Société' (Company) on invoices and signs.
The 'Company' vs 'Society' Trick
If the sentence mentions money, shares, or offices, it's 'company'. If it mentions people, trends, or values, it's 'society'.
Gender Alert
Never say 'du société'. It is always feminine: 'de la société'.
In 15 Seconds
- Refers to both 'of society' and 'of the company.'
- Used for social issues, business contexts, and board games.
- Placed after a noun to act as a descriptive modifier.
What It Means
de la société is a versatile French building block. It has two main personalities. First, it refers to society at large. Think of social issues, human behavior, or collective values. Second, it refers to a business or company. In French, a 'société' is often a legal business structure. So, it can mean 'of the company' just as easily as 'of society.' It acts like a descriptive tag you attach to nouns.
How To Use It
You place it directly after the noun you want to describe. It functions like an adjective in English. For example, un membre de la société means a member of society. If you are at work, le logo de la société is the company logo. It is simple to slot into sentences. You do not need to change the form for gender or number. It stays de la société whether the noun before it is masculine or feminine.
When To Use It
Use it when discussing big-picture topics. It is perfect for debates about politics or sociology. You will hear it constantly on the news. Use it in professional settings too. It is the standard way to refer to corporate property or rules. If you are playing board games, you are playing jeux de société. This is a very common everyday use you will love.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use it to describe someone as 'social.' If your friend is a party animal, they are sociable, not de la société. Also, avoid it when talking about a small, informal group of friends. For that, use du groupe or de la bande. It feels too heavy for small social circles. Do not confuse it with social, which is the direct adjective for 'social.'
Cultural Background
French culture places a high value on the 'social contract.' People love to debate les problèmes de la société over a long lunch. It is a national pastime to analyze how the world works. Also, the term société reflects the French legal view of business. Businesses are seen as 'societies' of partners. This shows a focus on collective effort rather than just a 'company.'
Common Variations
You will often see au sein de la société. This means 'within the society' or 'within the company.' Another common one is siège de la société for the headquarters. If you are talking about high society, you might hear la haute société. For board games, it is always jeux de société. It is a phrase that grows with your vocabulary.
Usage Notes
The phrase is highly versatile. In business, it identifies ownership or affiliation. In general conversation, it identifies societal trends. It is grammatically stable and doesn't change based on the noun it modifies.
The 'Company' vs 'Society' Trick
If the sentence mentions money, shares, or offices, it's 'company'. If it mentions people, trends, or values, it's 'society'.
Gender Alert
Never say 'du société'. It is always feminine: 'de la société'.
The 'Social' Adjective
Remember that 'social' is the adjective. 'Un problème social' (a social problem) is often interchangeable with 'un problème de société'.
Examples
6C'est un vrai problème de la société actuelle.
It is a real problem of today's society.
Here, it refers to the collective human community.
Voici les nouveaux objectifs de la société.
Here are the company's new objectives.
In this context, it clearly refers to a business entity.
Tu as pris la voiture de la société ?
Did you take the company car?
A common way to refer to corporate-owned assets.
On fait un petit jeu de société ce soir ?
Shall we play a little board game tonight?
The standard term for board games in French.
Mon chat se prend pour le PDG de la société !
My cat thinks he's the CEO of the company!
Using the corporate meaning for a funny comparison.
Il se sent parfois en marge de la société.
He sometimes feels on the fringes of society.
A more serious, emotional use regarding social belonging.
Test Yourself
Complete the sentence with 'de la société' or 'de société'.
Les échecs sont un jeu ______ très ancien.
In the fixed expression for 'board game', we drop the article.
Which sentence refers to a business entity?
Choisissez la phrase qui parle d'une entreprise.
'Capital' is a financial term specifically related to a business (company).
Match the French phrase with its English context.
Associez les phrases.
These are standard translations for the dual meanings of 'société'.
Fill in the missing part of the dialogue.
A: Pourquoi as-tu quitté ton job ? B: Je n'aimais plus la culture ______.
'Culture de la société' refers to the company culture.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Société vs. Entreprise
Practice Bank
4 exercisesLes échecs sont un jeu ______ très ancien.
In the fixed expression for 'board game', we drop the article.
Choisissez la phrase qui parle d'une entreprise.
'Capital' is a financial term specifically related to a business (company).
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
These are standard translations for the dual meanings of 'société'.
A: Pourquoi as-tu quitté ton job ? B: Je n'aimais plus la culture ______.
'Culture de la société' refers to the company culture.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsUsually, yes. It's only dropped in fixed expressions like 'jeu de société' or 'problème de société'.
In a business context, 'compagnie' is used (like 'Air France'), but 'société' is the more common general term for a firm.
It is neutral to formal. In slang, you would use 'de la boîte' for a company.
It refers to the collective of citizens acting outside of government, like NGOs or community groups.
You can say 'la haute société', but 'le grand monde' is also very common.
Yes, they share the same Latin root 'socius', relating to how people live together.
No, for a party you would use 'de la fête' or 'de la soirée'.
It's a high-level phrase meaning 'to create a cohesive community'.
'Entreprise' is more about the activity/business, 'société' is more about the legal entity.
It becomes 'des sociétés' (of the societies/companies).
Related Phrases
au sein de la société
similarwithin the society/company
en société
specialized formin public / in the company of others
un jeu de société
specialized forma board game
la société civile
specialized formcivil society
siège social
builds onheadquarters
