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B2 noun 11 min read

legs

Examples legs in 30 Seconds
Explanation legs in your Level:
At the A1 level, you don't really need to use the word 'legs' yet, as it is quite formal and technical. However, it's good to know that it means 'a gift left in a will.' Imagine someone dies and gives you their house or some money—that is a 'legs.' In simple French, you would probably just say 'un cadeau après la mort' or 'un héritage.' The most important thing for an A1 learner is the pronunciation: it sounds like the French word for milk, 'lait.' You don't say the 'g' or the 's.' Even though it is a difficult word, you might see it in a story about a king or a rich person. Just remember: 'legs' = legacy/bequest.
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At the A2 level, you are starting to learn about family and possessions. You might encounter 'legs' when reading simple news articles or historical texts. For example, 'Le roi a fait un legs à l'église.' (The king made a bequest to the church.) At this stage, you should focus on the fact that it is a masculine noun ('un legs') and that it stays the same in the plural ('des legs'). It is more specific than 'un cadeau' (a gift) because it only happens through a 'testament' (a will). If you are talking about what you want to leave to your children one day, you might use this word to sound a bit more serious and formal.
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At the B1 level, you should be able to distinguish between 'un legs' and 'un héritage.' An 'héritage' is the general concept of inheriting, while 'un legs' is the specific item or amount of money mentioned in a will. You might hear this word in a movie or a TV show about a family arguing over money. You should also be aware of the verb 'léguer' (to bequeath), which is the action associated with the noun. For example: 'Il a légué sa collection de timbres à son petit-fils.' Understanding this word helps you follow more complex narratives and formal announcements, especially those involving museums or charities.
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At the B2 level, 'legs' is a word you should be able to use correctly in formal writing and understand in legal or cultural contexts. You should know the different types of bequests, such as 'legs universel' (leaving everything to one person) or 'legs particulier' (leaving a specific object). You should also understand its metaphorical use: 'le legs culturel de la France' (the cultural legacy of France). At this level, you should be comfortable with the silent 'gs' and not be confused by the English word 'legs.' You are expected to use this word in essays about society, history, or law to demonstrate a sophisticated vocabulary.
At the C1 level, you should have a nuanced understanding of 'legs' within the context of French civil law and philosophy. You should be able to discuss the 'legs de la Révolution' or the 'legs colonial' with precision. You understand that 'legs' implies a conscious choice by the deceased, unlike 'succession ab intestat' (inheritance without a will). You can use it in complex sentence structures, such as 'Nonobstant les dettes, il a accepté le legs par respect pour la mémoire du défunt.' Your pronunciation should be perfect, and you should be able to explain the etymological curiosity of the word (the false Latin 'g' and 's') to others.
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At the C2 level, 'legs' is a tool for precise and elegant expression. You use it to navigate the subtle differences between 'libéralité,' 'donation,' and 'legs' in legal discourse. You are familiar with its usage in classical literature, from Balzac to Proust, and can analyze how a 'legs' serves as a plot device or a symbol of ancestral weight. You can use the word to discuss abstract concepts like 'le legs de la pensée antique' or 'le legs génétique' in scientific contexts. Your mastery of the word includes its history, its legal constraints in the French Code Civil, and its power as a rhetorical device in formal oratory.
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Examples

legs in 30 Seconds

  • Legs means 'bequest' or 'legacy' in French.
  • It is a masculine noun: un legs (singular) and des legs (plural).
  • Pronunciation: /lɛ/ (the 'g' and 's' are silent).
  • Used in legal documents, wills, and when discussing cultural history.

The French word legs is a sophisticated legal and literary term that translates most directly to the English word "bequest" or "legacy." While it might look like the English word for lower limbs, its pronunciation is entirely different—it is pronounced simply as /lɛ/, sounding identical to the French word for milk (lait) or the plural article les. The 'g' and 's' are etymological remnants and remain silent. In essence, a legs is a gift made by a person through a will (testament) to take effect after their death. This word sits at the intersection of law, family history, and philanthropy, carrying a weight of permanence and finality.

Legal Nature
A legs is distinct from a don (gift) because a gift usually happens during the donor's lifetime, whereas a legs is strictly post-mortem. It is a unilateral act of will.
Types of Bequests
French law distinguishes between a legs universel (leaving the entire estate), a legs à titre universel (leaving a percentage or a category of goods), and a legs particulier (leaving a specific item, like a painting or a sum of money).
Social Context
You will encounter this word in news reports about famous artists leaving their collections to the Louvre, or in historical discussions about the legs of the Enlightenment to modern democracy.

L'écrivain a consenti un legs important à la bibliothèque municipale, comprenant des manuscrits inédits.

Understanding legs requires an appreciation for the French Civil Code. In France, inheritance laws are quite strict regarding "forced heirship" (la réserve héréditaire). One cannot simply disinherit their children. Therefore, a legs often refers to the portion of the estate that the deceased was free to dispose of as they wished (la quotité disponible). This makes the term particularly relevant in discussions about charity and non-familial distributions of wealth. When a billionaire leaves money to a foundation, the media describes it as a legs humanitaire.

Elle a refusé le legs car les dettes rattachées à la propriété étaient trop lourdes.

Beyond the courtroom, the word takes on a metaphorical dimension. We speak of the legs culturel of a civilization or the legs moral of a parent. In this sense, it is synonymous with "heritage" or "legacy." It implies a transmission of values, knowledge, or prestige from one generation to the next. For instance, the French Republic is often described as the legs of the 1789 Revolution. This dual usage—one strictly legal and the other broadly cultural—makes it a versatile tool for advanced French speakers.

Le legs de la Grèce antique à la philosophie occidentale est inestimable.

Register
This is a formal word. In casual conversation, people might use héritage or don, but in any official, literary, or legal capacity, legs is the precise term required.

Le testament contenait un legs particulier pour son plus fidèle serviteur.

Using legs correctly involves understanding its grammatical role as a masculine noun and its specific collocations. Because it is a formal word, it is often paired with verbs like consentir (to grant), recevoir (to receive), faire (to make), or révoquer (to revoke). It is almost always preceded by an article (un, le, ce) or a possessive adjective (son, notre).

Direct Object Usage
The most common way to use it is as the object of a will-related action. "Il a fait un legs à une association." (He made a bequest to an association.)
Subjective Usage
It can also be the subject of a sentence, especially when discussing the conditions of a will. "Le legs est assujetti à des conditions strictes." (The bequest is subject to strict conditions.)

Le legs universel permet au bénéficiaire de recueillir l'intégralité des biens.

In a metaphorical context, the sentence structure remains the same, but the tone shifts from legalistic to philosophical. Here, legs is often followed by the preposition de to indicate the source. "Le legs de nos ancêtres" (The legacy of our ancestors). It emphasizes the continuity of history and the debt we owe to the past. It is a favorite word of historians and biographers who wish to summarize the impact of a person's life.

Nous devons protéger le legs architectural de cette ville médiévale.

When discussing the receipt of a bequest, the verb recueillir is frequently used in high-level French. For example, "Elle a recueilli un legs de son oncle." This sounds much more elegant than simply saying "Elle a eu de l'argent." It implies a formal process of taking possession of what has been left behind. In legal disputes, you might hear about contester un legs (contesting a bequest), which happens when family members believe a will was made under duress or is invalid.

Plusieurs legs ont été faits au profit de la recherche médicale cette année.

Finally, consider the passive voice, which is common in administrative documents. "Ce bâtiment a été transmis par legs à la fondation." Here, par legs acts as an adverbial phrase explaining the method of transfer. This is a very common construction in real estate and museum catalogs. It highlights the importance of the act of giving over the person who gave it.

Common Prepositions
Legs à (to someone), Legs de (from someone/something), Par legs (via bequest).

Il a été surpris par l'ampleur du legs qu'il a reçu d'un lointain cousin.

You won't hear legs at a grocery store or in a casual chat about the weather. This word belongs to specific domains of French life. The first and most obvious place is a notaire's office. In France, the notaire is a central figure in family life, handling all property transactions and successions. When a family gathers for the reading of a will, the notaire will use legs to describe specific gifts mentioned in the document.

« Maître, pouvez-vous nous expliquer la différence entre ce legs particulier et la réserve ? »

Another frequent environment is museums and cultural institutions. If you walk through the Louvre, the Musée d'Orsay, or any regional French museum, you will see small plaques next to paintings. They often read: "Legs de M. et Mme [Name], [Year]." This indicates that the artwork was not purchased by the state but given generously by a private citizen upon their death. It is a mark of prestige and civic contribution.

In the news and media, legs is used when discussing philanthropy. Organizations like the Croix-Rouge (Red Cross) or Médecins Sans Frontières often have campaigns encouraging supporters to make a legs to their cause. They might say, "Faire un legs, c'est prolonger votre action pour l'avenir." (Making a bequest is extending your action into the future.) This usage highlights the altruistic side of the word.

Le journal télévisé a annoncé un legs record de 50 millions d'euros à l'Institut Pasteur.

Literature and cinema also utilize the word to create drama. In classic French novels by authors like Balzac or Maupassant, the plot often revolves around a mysterious or contested legs. It represents the power of the dead over the living, a theme that remains popular in French period dramas. When a character says, "Je refuse son legs !" it is a powerful statement of independence or moral objection.

News Keywords
Succession, héritage, testament, donateur, bénéficiaire, patrimoine.

Dans son dernier film, le réalisateur explore le legs empoisonné d'une famille aristocratique.

The most frequent mistake English speakers make with legs is, unsurprisingly, its pronunciation. Because the spelling is identical to the English plural of "leg," there is a strong urge to pronounce the 'g' and 's'. Doing so will immediately mark you as a non-native speaker and might even cause confusion, as the French word for the body part is jambe. Remember: legs = /lɛ/.

Another error involves gender and number. Students often think that because it ends in 's', it must be feminine or plural. However, it is a masculine singular noun: un legs. If you want to make it plural, it remains exactly the same: des legs. Using une legs is a common grammatical slip that should be avoided.

Incorrect: Elle a reçu une legs.
Correct: Elle a reçu un legs.

Confusing legs with héritage is a nuance-level mistake. While they are related, they are not interchangeable. Héritage refers to the entire process or the total assets received by law or will. Legs refers specifically to the act of giving via a will or the specific item given. You "receive an héritage," but you "benefit from a legs." If there is no will, there is no legs, only an héritage based on legal default rules.

Legs vs. Don
A don is a gift given now. A legs is a gift given after death. Using 'don' when you mean a bequest in a will is technically imprecise in a formal context.
Legs vs. Laissés
Sometimes learners use the past participle of laisser (to leave) as a noun. While 'les biens laissés' is correct, 'le laissé' is not a substitute for 'le legs'.

Finally, be careful with the spelling. Some learners try to "Frenchify" it by writing laix or lais because of the pronunciation. While lais actually exists in Old French (meaning a poem or a legacy), the modern standard spelling is legs. This spelling is actually a "learned error" from the 16th century, where scholars wrongly thought the word came from the Latin legatum and added the 'g' and 's' to show off their knowledge, even though the word actually comes from the French verb laisser!

N'oubliez pas : le 'g' est muet, tout comme le 's'. On dit /lɛ/.

To truly master legs, you should know the words that surround it in the semantic field of giving and inheriting. Depending on the context—legal, casual, or metaphorical—you might choose a different term to sound more natural.

Héritage (Heritage/Inheritance)
The most common alternative. It is broader than legs and covers everything left behind, whether by will or by law. Use this for general conversations about family money.
Donation (Donation)
In French, a donation is a legal gift made while the person is still alive. It often requires a notarial deed. If the person is still breathing, it's a donation; if they've passed, it's a legs.
Patrimoine (Heritage/Estate)
This refers to the total assets and liabilities of a person or a nation. We talk about patrimoine mondial de l'UNESCO. It is the "substance" of what is left behind.

Alors que le legs est spécifique à un testament, l'héritage est un concept plus vaste.

In metaphorical contexts, you might use succession. While often referring to the legal process of settling an estate, it can also mean a sequence of things. However, if you are talking about the influence of a great thinker, legs is more poetic. For example, "Le legs de Simone de Beauvoir au féminisme" sounds more profound than "L'héritage de Simone de Beauvoir."

If you are looking for a more casual way to say someone left you something, you can use the verb léguer. "Mon grand-père m'a légué sa montre." (My grandfather bequeathed me his watch.) This is very common and slightly less stiff than using the noun legs. It allows for a more active sentence structure.

Elle a choisi de léguer ses biens à une œuvre de charité plutôt qu'à sa famille.

Comparison Table
  • Legs: Formal, specific to a will, silent 'gs'.
  • Héritage: General, can be legal or cultural, common.
  • Don: Simple gift, usually during life.
  • Transmission: The act of passing something on (values, genes, property).

Pronunciation Guide

UK /lɛ/
US /lɛ/
Single syllable word; equal stress.
Rhymes With
lait paix vrai fait mai succès (if pronounced /sɥksɛ/) ballet reflet
Common Errors
  • Pronouncing the 'g' like in 'egg'.
  • Pronouncing the 's' like in 'mess'.
  • Pronouncing it like the English word 'legs'.
  • Confusing it with 'lègue' (the verb form, which has a hard 'g').
  • Thinking the 's' indicates a plural sound.
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Examples by Level

1

C'est un legs de mon grand-père.

It's a bequest from my grandfather.

Masculine singular noun.

2

Le legs est dans le testament.

The bequest is in the will.

Subject of the sentence.

3

Il a reçu un legs important.

He received a large bequest.

Used with the indefinite article 'un'.

4

Elle accepte le legs.

She accepts the bequest.

Direct object of the verb 'accepter'.

5

Le legs est une maison.

The bequest is a house.

Predicate nominative.

6

Merci pour ce legs.

Thank you for this bequest.

Used with the demonstrative adjective 'ce'.

7

C'est un petit legs.

It's a small bequest.

Modified by the adjective 'petit'.

8

Où est le legs ?

Where is the bequest?

Interrogative sentence.

1

Le musée a reçu un legs de tableaux.

The museum received a bequest of paintings.

Legs followed by 'de' and a noun.

2

Mon oncle a fait un legs à la ville.

My uncle made a bequest to the city.

Verb 'faire un legs à'.

3

Il n'y a pas de legs dans ce testament.

There is no bequest in this will.

Negative construction 'pas de legs'.

4

Ce legs aide beaucoup l'association.

This bequest helps the association a lot.

Subject of the verb 'aider'.

5

Elle parle du legs de sa tante.

She is talking about her aunt's bequest.

Contraction 'du' (de + le).

6

Nous attendons le legs avec impatience.

We are waiting for the bequest with impatience.

Direct object.

7

Le legs comprend des bijoux anciens.

The bequest includes antique jewelry.

Verb 'comprendre'.

8

C'est un legs très généreux.

It's a very generous bequest.

Adjective 'généreux' follows the noun.

1

Le legs de son père lui a permis de voyager.

His father's bequest allowed him to travel.

Causal relationship expressed with 'permettre'.

2

Elle a décidé de refuser le legs empoisonné.

She decided to refuse the poisoned legacy.

Metaphorical use of 'empoisonné'.

3

Les legs aux œuvres caritatives sont fréquents.

Bequests to charities are frequent.

Plural form 'les legs'.

4

Il a rédigé un legs particulier pour son ami.

He wrote a specific bequest for his friend.

Legal term 'legs particulier'.

5

Le notaire a lu le legs à haute voix.

The notary read the bequest out loud.

Contextual usage in a notary's office.

6

Ce legs est le fruit de toute une vie de travail.

This bequest is the fruit of a lifetime of work.

Metaphorical description.

7

Elle a hérité d'un legs assez complexe.

She inherited a rather complex bequest.

Verb 'hériter de'.

8

Le legs a été contesté par la famille.

The bequest was contested by the family.

Passive voice 'a été contesté'.

1

Le legs universel donne droit à tous les biens du défunt.

The universal bequest gives rights to all the deceased's property.

Technical legal term 'legs universel'.

2

Il a consenti un legs en faveur de la recherche scientifique.

He granted a bequest in favor of scientific research.

Formal verb 'consentir'.

3

Le legs de la Renaissance est encore visible aujourd'hui.

The legacy of the Renaissance is still visible today.

Abstract/historical usage.

4

Elle craignait que le legs ne soit annulé par le tribunal.

She feared that the bequest might be annulled by the court.

Subjunctive mood after 'craindre que'.

5

Ce legs témoigne de l'attachement de l'auteur à sa ville natale.

This bequest bears witness to the author's attachment to his hometown.

Verb 'témoigner de'.

6

Les dispositions concernant le legs sont très précises.

The provisions concerning the bequest are very precise.

Noun 'dispositions'.

7

Il a bénéficié d'un legs à titre particulier.

He benefited from a specific bequest.

Legal term 'à titre particulier'.

8

Le legs de ses ancêtres pèse sur ses épaules.

The legacy of his ancestors weighs on his shoulders.

Figurative usage.

1

La validité du legs repose sur le respect des formes testamentaires.

The validity of the bequest rests on the respect of testamentary forms.

Highly formal legal register.

2

Ce legs constitue une libéralité irrévocable après le décès.

This bequest constitutes an irrevocable gift after death.

Legal terminology 'libéralité irrévocable'.

3

Le legs de la philosophie des Lumières imprègne notre Constitution.

The legacy of Enlightenment philosophy permeates our Constitution.

Abstract metaphorical usage.

4

Il a fallu s'acquitter des droits de succession sur ce legs important.

It was necessary to pay inheritance taxes on this significant bequest.

Verb 's'acquitter de'.

5

Le legs de cet artiste est un vibrant hommage à la nature.

This artist's legacy is a vibrant tribute to nature.

Poetic/critical register.

6

L'exécuteur testamentaire doit veiller à la bonne exécution du legs.

The executor of the will must ensure the proper execution of the bequest.

Legal role 'exécuteur testamentaire'.

7

Le legs par préciput permet de favoriser un héritier par rapport aux autres.

The bequest by preference allows favoring one heir over others.

Obscure legal term 'par préciput'.

8

On ne saurait ignorer le legs historique de cette période sombre.

One cannot ignore the historical legacy of this dark period.

Formal 'on ne saurait' construction.

1

L'herméneutique du legs testamentaire révèle des intentions insoupçonnées.

The hermeneutics of the testamentary bequest reveal unsuspected intentions.

Academic register.

2

Le legs universel ne peut empiéter sur la réserve héréditaire des descendants.

The universal bequest cannot encroach upon the forced heirship of the descendants.

Advanced legal constraint.

3

La pérennité de son legs artistique est assurée par une fondation dédiée.

The permanence of his artistic legacy is ensured by a dedicated foundation.

Noun 'pérennité'.

4

Le legs de la décolonisation demeure un sujet de débat historiographique majeur.

The legacy of decolonization remains a major historiographical debate topic.

Intellectual register.

5

Sous l'Ancien Régime, le legs de mainmorte était une pratique courante de l'Église.

Under the Old Regime, the mortmain bequest was a common practice of the Church.

Historical legal term 'mainmorte'.

6

Le legs se distingue de la donation par son caractère essentiellement révocable jusqu'au trépas.

A bequest is distinguished from a donation by its essentially revocable nature until death.

Precise legal distinction.

7

L'ambiguïté du legs a suscité une pléthore de recours juridiques.

The ambiguity of the bequest sparked a plethora of legal appeals.

Sophisticated vocabulary 'pléthore'.

8

Considérer la culture comme un legs immatériel impose des devoirs de transmission.

Considering culture as an intangible legacy imposes duties of transmission.

Philosophical/Ethical register.

Common Collocations

faire un legs
legs universel
legs particulier
recevoir un legs
accepter un legs
refuser un legs
legs culturel
legs moral
contester un legs
révoquer un legs

Common Phrases

Par legs

— By means of a bequest.

Il a acquis ce château par legs.

Un legs à titre universel

— A bequest of a certain portion of the estate.

Le legs à titre universel portait sur la moitié de ses biens.

Legs de biens

— Bequest of property.

Le legs de biens immobiliers est complexe.

Legs en argent

— Bequest of money.

Elle a prévu un legs en argent pour ses neveux.

Bénéficiaire d'un legs

— Someone who receives a bequest.

Il est le seul bénéficiaire d'un legs important.

Legs et donations

— Bequests and donations (often grouped together).

L'association vit de legs et donations.

Faire l'objet d'un legs

— To be the subject of a bequest.

Cette collection a fait l'objet d'un legs au musée.

Legs de la main à la main

— Incorrect usage (should be 'don manuel'), but implies a direct gift.

N/A

Un legs empoisonné

— A gift that brings more trouble than benefit.

Cette vieille maison en ruine est un legs empoisonné.

Legs de l'histoire

— What history has left us.

La démocratie est un legs de l'histoire.

Idioms & Expressions

"Laisser un legs"

— To leave a legacy (literally or figuratively).

Il a laissé un legs durable dans le monde de la physique.

Neutral
"Un legs pour l'éternité"

— Something that will last forever.

Ses œuvres sont un legs pour l'éternité.

Poetic
"Porter le poids d'un legs"

— To feel the burden of a family legacy.

Il porte le poids d'un legs familial trop lourd.

Literary
"Trahir un legs"

— To go against the values or wishes of a legacy.

Vendre ce terrain serait trahir le legs de nos ancêtres.

Formal
"Un legs de sang"

— Refers to genetic inheritance or a legacy of violence.

C'est un legs de sang dont il ne peut s'échapper.

Literary
"Fleurir un legs"

— To make a legacy grow or prosper.

Elle a su faire fleurir le legs de son père.

Metaphorical
"Le legs du passé"

— The things we inherit from history.

Nous devons composer avec le legs du passé.

Neutral
"Faire fructifier un legs"

— To invest or improve what was inherited.

Il a fait fructifier le legs financier de sa tante.

Neutral
"Un legs de sagesse"

— A legacy of wisdom.

Ses paroles sont un legs de sagesse.

Elevated
"Refuser le legs"

— To reject one's roots or heritage.

Il a passé sa vie à refuser le legs de sa famille.

Psychological

Word Family

Nouns

Verbs

Adjectives

Related

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Word Origin

Derived from the Old French verb 'laissier' (modern 'laisser'), meaning 'to leave.'

Original meaning: A thing left behind; a gift in a will.

Indo-European > Italic > Romance > French.
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This Word in Other Languages

legs English
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