In 15 Seconds
- A formal legal term for a judge hearing a court case.
- Used specifically in judicial, legal, or highly professional contexts.
- Not for trying food, clothes, or doing your best.
Meaning
This phrase refers to the formal process where a judge hears and examines a legal case in court to reach a verdict.
Key Examples
3 of 7Reading a news report
Le juge s'apprête à essayer la cause ce matin.
The judge is preparing to try the case this morning.
Discussing a legal drama
Dans ce film, le magistrat doit essayer la cause malgré les pressions.
In this movie, the magistrate must try the case despite the pressure.
A law student talking to a professor
Est-ce que ce tribunal est compétent pour essayer la cause ?
Is this court competent to try the case?
Cultural Background
In Quebec, 'essayer la cause' is very common in the legal system, which is a mix of French Civil Law and English Common Law. In modern France, the term is considered slightly archaic or very technical. Journalists prefer 'instruire l'affaire'. Belgian legal French also uses 'essayer la cause' in formal procedural contexts, maintaining a traditional vocabulary. Swiss legal French is known for its precision and often uses traditional collocations like this in federal court documents.
Use in Quebec
If you are moving to Montreal, this phrase is much more useful than in Paris!
No 'de'!
Remember: essayer + la cause. No preposition needed between them.
In 15 Seconds
- A formal legal term for a judge hearing a court case.
- Used specifically in judicial, legal, or highly professional contexts.
- Not for trying food, clothes, or doing your best.
What It Means
Imagine a judge in a long black robe sitting behind a high desk. They are not just listening; they are "trying" the facts of a case. This phrase describes the official act of a trial. It is about finding the truth through a formal legal process. You are examining the cause, which in this context means the legal dispute or the case itself. It is a term that carries the weight of authority and the search for justice.
How To Use It
You will usually use this phrase with a judge or a court as the subject. For example, you might say Le tribunal va essayer la cause. It sounds very official and a bit heavy. You won't use this in casual conversation while grabbing a croissant with friends. It belongs in a courtroom, a law office, or a serious news report. Always remember that la cause here is a legal term, not a social movement or a reason for doing something.
When To Use It
Use it when you are discussing the justice system or legal proceedings. It is perfect for talking about news reports or crime novels you are reading. If you are a law student or working in a professional legal environment, this is part of your daily vocabulary. It is also useful if you are watching a French TV drama like Engrenages. Using it makes you sound very precise, educated, and serious about the topic at hand.
When NOT To Use It
Never use this to mean "trying your best" at a task. For that, you should use faire de son mieux. Do not use it for trying on clothes at a shop either; that is just the verb essayer on its own. If you tell a shop assistant you want to essayer la cause with a pair of jeans, they will be very confused! Avoid it in casual texts unless you are making a very specific joke about being a judge in your friend's personal drama.
Cultural Background
France operates under a civil law system with deep historical roots. The word essayer actually comes from the Latin exagium, which means a weighing. In the past, judges literally "weighed" the evidence to find the truth. This phrase reflects the centuries of tradition in the French judicial system. It shows the importance the French place on formal procedures and the dignity of the law. Even the word cause feels more prestigious than the everyday word for a "case."
Common Variations
You might hear entendre la cause more frequently in places like Quebec. In mainland France, people often say juger une affaire for the same general idea. If a lawyer is the one speaking, they will plaider la cause, which means they are arguing the case for their client. If you want to sound even more technical, you could use instruire le procès, but essayer la cause remains a classic, formal way to describe a judge's work.
Usage Notes
This is a high-register, formal collocation. It is almost exclusively used in legal and judicial contexts. Avoid using it in casual or social settings unless you want to sound like a law textbook.
Use in Quebec
If you are moving to Montreal, this phrase is much more useful than in Paris!
No 'de'!
Remember: essayer + la cause. No preposition needed between them.
Formal only
Keep this for your law exams or formal writing; it's too heavy for a chat.
Examples
7Le juge s'apprête à essayer la cause ce matin.
The judge is preparing to try the case this morning.
This is a standard way to report on a trial starting.
Dans ce film, le magistrat doit essayer la cause malgré les pressions.
In this movie, the magistrate must try the case despite the pressure.
Used here to describe the plot of a serious legal story.
Est-ce que ce tribunal est compétent pour essayer la cause ?
Is this court competent to try the case?
A technical question about legal jurisdiction.
Je me sens comme un juge qui doit essayer la cause de mon colocataire !
I feel like a judge who has to try my roommate's case!
Using the formal term to joke about a roommate's drama.
Le tribunal prendra du temps pour bien essayer la cause.
The court will take time to properly try the case.
Reassuring a client that the process will be thorough.
En 1850, il était rare d'essayer la cause si rapidement.
In 1850, it was rare to try the case so quickly.
Providing historical context about the speed of justice.
Il est crucial d'essayer la cause avec une totale impartialité.
It is crucial to try the case with total impartiality.
Emphasizing the emotional and ethical weight of justice.
Test Yourself
Choose the correct word to complete the legal sentence.
Le juge va ________ la cause demain à 10 heures.
'Essayer la cause' is the standard legal collocation for hearing a case.
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'essayer'.
Hier, le tribunal a ________ la cause du vol de la banque.
The passé composé of 'essayer' is used here with the auxiliary 'avoir'.
Match the sentence to the correct context.
1. J'essaye cette chemise. 2. Le juge essaye la cause.
'Essayer' changes meaning based on the object (chemise vs. cause).
Complete the dialogue between two lawyers.
Avocat A: Quand est-ce que le juge va ________ ? Avocat B: Il va essayer la cause lundi.
In a legal context, lawyers discuss 'trying the case'.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Essayer: Two Meanings
Practice Bank
4 exercisesLe juge va ________ la cause demain à 10 heures.
'Essayer la cause' is the standard legal collocation for hearing a case.
Hier, le tribunal a ________ la cause du vol de la banque.
The passé composé of 'essayer' is used here with the auxiliary 'avoir'.
1. J'essaye cette chemise. 2. Le juge essaye la cause.
'Essayer' changes meaning based on the object (chemise vs. cause).
Avocat A: Quand est-ce que le juge va ________ ? Avocat B: Il va essayer la cause lundi.
In a legal context, lawyers discuss 'trying the case'.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNo, in this context, 'cause' means a legal case or lawsuit.
It's better to say 'instruire un procès' or 'essayer la cause'.
Both are correct! 'Le juge essaie' or 'Le juge essaye' are both accepted.
It's rare in daily life but common in legal documents.
No, use 'tester' or 'essayer' with the sport name (essayer le tennis).
'Juger' is the final act of giving a verdict; 'essayer' is the process of hearing the case.
Yes, 'cause' is always a feminine noun in French.
No, only a judge or a court can 'essayer' a cause.
There isn't a direct opposite, but 'classer l'affaire' (to close the case) is a common result.
Yes, especially in legal sections of newspapers.
Related Phrases
entendre une cause
synonymTo hear a case
instruire un procès
similarTo prepare a trial
plaider une cause
similarTo plead a case
gagner sa cause
builds onTo win one's case
perdre sa cause
contrastTo lose one's case
