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redevance

B1 noun 11 min read

redevance

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips redevance in 30 Seconds

Explanation redevance in your Level:

At the A1 level, you only need to know that 'redevance' is a word for a special kind of bill or payment. You might see it in very simple contexts like paying for water or a TV license (though the TV one is gone in France). Think of it as a 'fee'. You don't need to use it yourself yet, but if you see it on a paper from the government, it means you have to pay money for something you are using. It is a feminine word: 'la redevance'. You can remember it by thinking of 'paying back' for a service. At this stage, focus on the fact that it is a formal way to say 'money you owe for a service'. You might hear people talk about 'la redevance télé' when they talk about old times or other countries. It is a good word to recognize so you don't get confused when you see it on an official document. Just remember: Redevance = Fee for a service.

At the A2 level, you should understand that 'redevance' is different from a regular price or a general tax. It is a payment for a specific service. For example, if you live in a house, you might pay a 'redevance' for the trash to be picked up. You can start using it in simple sentences like 'Je dois payer la redevance'. You should also know that it is often used in the plural 'redevances' when talking about business. If you are learning about professions, you might learn that authors receive 'redevances' (royalties) when people buy their books. This is a step up from just 'l'argent'. It shows you understand that different types of payments have different names in French. You should be able to identify it in a simple bill or a short news clip about local services. It is a feminine noun, so always use 'la' or 'une'. If the fee is high, you say 'une redevance chère' or 'une redevance élevée'.

At the B1 level, you are expected to understand the nuance of 'redevance' as a fee for a privilege or a service rendered. You should know the difference between 'une taxe' (often mandatory for everyone) and 'une redevance' (linked to your use of a service). This is important for discussing social issues, the environment, or basic legal matters. You should be able to use collocations like 's'acquitter d'une redevance' or 'percevoir une redevance'. In discussions about the environment, you might encounter the 'redevance incitative', which is a fee that changes based on how much trash you produce. This is a common topic in B1 exams. You should also be comfortable using the word in a professional context, such as discussing 'redevances de franchise' (franchise fees) or 'redevances de brevets' (patent royalties). Understanding the word 'redevance' allows you to participate in more complex conversations about how society and businesses are funded.

At the B2 level, you should have a firm grasp of the administrative and legal implications of the word 'redevance'. You understand that in French law, a 'redevance pour service rendu' must be proportional to the value of the service provided. This is a key distinction in political and economic debates. You should be able to use the word fluently when discussing intellectual property, public infrastructure, or environmental policy. For instance, you could explain how 'redevances aéroportuaires' affect the price of travel or how 'redevances sur la copie privée' compensate artists for digital copying. You should also be aware of the historical context of the 'redevance audiovisuelle' and its abolition. Your vocabulary should include related terms like 'assujetti à la redevance' (subject to the fee) or 'exonération de redevance' (exemption from the fee). At this level, you can use 'redevance' to make your arguments more precise and professional, especially in writing tasks or formal presentations.

At the C1 level, you should be able to use 'redevance' with all its legal and technical nuances. You understand its role in 'le domaine public' and how companies pay a 'redevance d'occupation' to use public space. You can discuss the complexities of international royalty payments and how 'redevances' are treated under tax treaties to avoid double taxation. You are capable of reading complex legal contracts or administrative decrees where 'redevance' is used to define the financial obligations of the parties. You should also be able to distinguish between 'redevances' and 'redevances domaniales' or 'redevances pour service rendu' in a legal argument. Your use of the word should be natural and precise, reflecting an understanding of the underlying economic theory that a redevance serves as a price for a specific utility. You can analyze how shifting from a tax-based system to a redevance-based system impacts different social groups and the efficiency of public services.

At the C2 level, you possess a near-native understanding of the term 'redevance', including its historical evolution from feudal dues to modern administrative law. You can engage in high-level debates about the 'nature juridique' of a specific payment—arguing whether it constitutes a 'taxe' or a 'redevance' based on French constitutional jurisprudence (such as the decisions of the Conseil d'État). You understand the subtle differences in how the term is used across various Francophone jurisdictions, such as Belgium, Switzerland, or Quebec. You can use the word in highly specialized contexts, such as 'redevances de passage' in telecommunications or 'redevances minières' in international development law. Your mastery allows you to use the word with stylistic precision, perhaps even using it metaphorically in literary contexts to describe a moral or social debt. You are fully aware of the political sensitivity surrounding 'redevances' and can navigate these discussions with sophistication and cultural depth.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

redevance in 30 Seconds

A redevance is a fee paid specifically for a service or right, distinguishing it from general taxes that don't guarantee a direct individual return.
It is commonly used in administrative contexts (water, waste), environmental policy (pollution fees), and intellectual property (royalties for authors and musicians).
The term is a feminine noun ('la redevance') and is often associated with verbs like 'payer', 'percevoir', and 's'acquitter de'.
Understanding redevance is key to navigating French bureaucracy and business contracts, as it implies a reciprocal relationship between payer and provider.

The French noun redevance is a sophisticated term that English speakers often encounter when dealing with official payments, legal contracts, or public services. At its core, a redevance refers to a sum of money that must be paid periodically or as a one-off in exchange for a specific service rendered by a public or private entity, or for the right to use a particular privilege or property. Unlike a general tax, which might be collected for the general budget of the state without a direct individual service in return, a redevance is fundamentally tied to a 'contrepartie'—a benefit received by the payer.

Administrative Context: In French administrative law, a redevance is specifically defined as a payment for a service provided by a public body, such as the collection of waste or the provision of water. If you do not use the service, you generally do not pay the redevance, whereas a 'taxe' might be mandatory regardless of usage.

Depuis la réforme, nous ne payons plus la redevance audiovisuelle en France.

Historically, the most common use of this word for the average person was the 'redevance audiovisuelle,' the television license fee that funded public broadcasting. While this specific fee was abolished in France in 2022 to increase purchasing power, the word remains omnipresent in other sectors. You will see it in the context of intellectual property, where an author receives a redevance (royalty) for the use of their work. In the environmental sector, companies pay a 'redevance de pollution' based on the amount of waste they discharge into the ecosystem.

Commercial Context: In business, a redevance can refer to the fees paid by a franchisee to a franchisor for the right to use a brand name and business model. This is often calculated as a percentage of turnover.

Le titulaire du brevet perçoit une redevance sur chaque unité vendue.

In the mining and oil industries, companies pay a 'redevance minière' to the state for the right to extract natural resources from the ground. This reflects the idea that the resources belong to the nation, and the company is paying for the privilege of profit.

Environmental Context: The 'redevance incitative' is a modern waste management fee where households pay based on the actual volume of trash they produce, encouraging recycling and waste reduction.

La redevance pour occupation du domaine public est obligatoire pour installer une terrasse de café.

L'aéroport impose une redevance passager sur tous les billets d'avion.

Finally, in the digital age, we see redevances appearing in software licensing and cloud services. It is a word that bridges the gap between old-world feudal dues and modern economic transactions. Understanding 'redevance' is essential for anyone wanting to navigate French bureaucracy, business law, or environmental policy, as it highlights the reciprocal nature of the payment being made.

Using redevance correctly requires an understanding of its grammatical role and common collocations. As a feminine noun, it is preceded by 'la', 'une', or 'cette'. It often functions as the object of verbs related to payment or obligation. For instance, 'payer une redevance' (to pay a fee) is the most basic usage. However, in more formal or legal contexts, you might see 's'acquitter d'une redevance' (to settle or pay off a fee).

Verbal Associations: Common verbs include: percevoir (to collect/receive), fixer (to set/determine), augmenter (to increase), and exonérer (to exempt).

L'État perçoit une redevance sur l'exploitation des carrières de pierre.

When specifying what the fee is for, the preposition 'pour' or 'de' is typically used. For example, 'une redevance pour service rendu' (a fee for services rendered) or 'la redevance de stationnement' (parking fee). Note that in many modern French cities, parking fines have been renamed 'forfait de post-stationnement', but 'redevance' is still used for the initial usage fee.

Prepositional Usage: Use 'redevance sur' when referring to a fee levied on a specific activity or product, such as 'redevance sur la copie privée' (levy on private copying/blank media).

Il est nécessaire de s'acquitter de la redevance avant la fin du mois.

In the plural form, 'redevances' often refers to a series of payments or royalties. In a contract, you might read: 'Le licencié versera des redevances trimestrielles au concédant.' (The licensee will pay quarterly royalties to the licensor). This plural usage is very common in copyright and patent law.

Les redevances liées au droit d'auteur sont redistribuées par la SACEM.

Another nuanced usage involves the 'redevance d'assainissement' found on water bills. This covers the cost of treating wastewater. In this context, the word is used to distinguish the price of the water itself from the price of the service provided to clean it afterwards.

Subject-Verb Agreement: When 'redevance' is the subject, it often takes verbs like: s'appliquer (to apply), varier (to vary), or tomber (to fall/be due).

Une redevance supplémentaire s'applique pour tout bagage hors format.

Le calcul de la redevance se base sur votre consommation réelle.

By mastering these sentence patterns, you can discuss financial obligations with precision, distinguishing between simple costs and structured fees for specific rights or services.

You are most likely to encounter redevance in formal settings, administrative documents, and the news. It is not typically a word used in casual conversation between friends unless they are discussing bills or legal troubles. However, in the world of French administration, it is a staple. If you live in France, you will see it on your 'facture d'eau' (water bill) or in communications regarding 'ordures ménagères' (household waste).

On the News: Journalists frequently use the word when discussing public policy, particularly when the government introduces a new fee for environmental protection or infrastructure usage.

Le présentateur a annoncé une hausse de la redevance pour l'utilisation des autoroutes.

In the artistic and literary world, 'redevance' is the standard term for royalties. Authors, musicians, and software developers wait for their 'redevances de droits d'auteur'. When you hear a musician talking about their income, they might mention that their 'redevances' from streaming platforms are too low. This usage is crucial for anyone working in creative industries in a Francophone country.

In the Business World: Franchisees of major chains like McDonald's or Carrefour pay a 'redevance de franchise'. This is a daily reality for thousands of business owners.

Chaque mois, le franchisé doit verser une redevance à la maison mère.

Another common place to hear it is at the airport. The 'redevances aéroportuaires' are the fees airlines pay to use the airport's facilities, which are then passed on to passengers in the ticket price. If you look closely at a detailed airline receipt, you might see this term listed among the various taxes and fees.

Le débat sur la redevance carbone anime souvent les discussions écologiques.

In rural areas, you might hear about the 'redevance cynégétique', which is the fee hunters pay for their licenses. This shows how the word touches many different lifestyles, from the urban musician to the rural hunter.

Legal and Judicial Settings: Lawyers use 'redevance' when drafting contracts to ensure that the payment is clearly defined as a service fee rather than a tax or a rent payment.

Le juge a tranché sur le montant de la redevance due pour l'usage du brevet.

Les passagers se plaignent du coût élevé de la redevance de sécurité.

Understanding these contexts helps you realize that 'redevance' is more than just a synonym for 'money'; it is a specific economic relationship.

One of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make is confusing redevance with other terms for money like 'taxe', 'impôt', or 'loyer'. While they all involve paying money, their legal and practical applications in French are distinct. Using the wrong word can lead to confusion in professional or administrative settings.

Redevance vs. Taxe: A 'taxe' is often mandatory regardless of whether you use the service (like the 'taxe d'habitation'). A 'redevance' is specifically for a service you use (like a 'redevance' for water consumption). Do not use 'taxe' when you are paying for a specific usage or royalty.

Erreur: Je paie une taxe pour mes droits d'auteur. Correction: Je perçois une redevance pour mes droits d'auteur.

Another common error is using 'redevance' to mean 'rent'. In English, we might say 'the fee for the apartment', but in French, this is strictly 'le loyer'. A 'redevance' might be paid for the right to use a commercial space (like a booth in a market), but for housing, it is always 'loyer'.

Confusion with 'Royalty': While 'redevance' is the correct translation for 'royalty' in a business sense, beginners often try to use the English word directly or use 'royauté', which in French refers only to the status of being a king or queen.

Attention: Ne confondez pas la redevance avec l'amende (fine). On paie une redevance pour un service, pas pour une infraction.

Grammatically, forgetting that 'redevance' is feminine is a recurring issue. Learners often say 'un redevance' because it ends in a sound that feels neutral or masculine to some ears. Always pair it with feminine adjectives: 'une redevance élevée', 'la redevance annuelle'.

Incorrect: J'ai payé une redevance pour cette baguette. Correct: J'ai payé le prix de cette baguette.

Furthermore, in the context of the TV license fee, people often say 'la redevance télé'. While understood, the formal term was 'redevance audiovisuelle'. Since its removal in France, using the term in the present tense to describe your current French taxes is an error of fact, though it still applies in other countries like Switzerland or Belgium.

Preposition Errors: Learners sometimes use 'à' instead of 'de' or 'pour'. While you pay 'à' someone (payer à l'État), the fee itself is 'de' or 'pour' something (la redevance de l'eau).

La redevance pour l'utilisation du réseau est incluse dans votre forfait.

Certaines entreprises tentent d'éviter la redevance en modifiant leurs contrats.

By avoiding these pitfalls, you will sound much more professional and precise in your French communication.

To truly master the concept of redevance, it is helpful to compare it with its synonyms and related terms. Each has a slightly different shade of meaning depending on the context.

Taxe: Often used interchangeably in casual speech, but technically a 'taxe' is a mandatory payment for a public service, even if you don't use it, while a 'redevance' is only for users. Example: Taxe d'enlèvement des ordures ménagères (mandatory) vs. Redevance d'enlèvement (usage-based).

Contrairement à l'impôt, la redevance correspond à un service précis.

Droit: In the plural, 'droits' often refers to fees for a right of passage or usage, such as 'droits de douane' (customs duties) or 'droits d'inscription' (registration fees). 'Redevance' is more common for ongoing royalties or specific administrative service fees.

L'auteur a cédé ses droits en échange d'une redevance proportionnelle aux ventes.

Cotisation: This refers to a contribution or subscription fee, often for social security ('cotisations sociales') or a club membership. It implies a collective pool of funds rather than a direct payment for a commercial service like 'redevance'.

Le contrat prévoit une redevance fixe annuelle indépendamment du profit.

Émolument: A very formal term used for the fees paid to public officials like notaries. While a 'redevance' is for a service, an 'émolument' is the specific regulated remuneration for a professional act.

La redevance d'archéologie préventive doit être payée avant de construire sur ce terrain.

Les redevances de concession sont une source de revenus pour la municipalité.

In conclusion, while French has many words for payments, 'redevance' stands out for its emphasis on the quid-pro-quo relationship between the payer and the receiver. Mastering these nuances will help you navigate the complexities of French law and commerce with confidence.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

In the Middle Ages, 'redevances' were the payments serfs made to their lords in exchange for protection or the right to farm the land. Modern administrative fees are the direct descendants of these feudal dues.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /ʁə.də.vɑ̃s/

US /rə.də.vɑ̃s/

Stress is usually on the final syllable 'vance'.

Rhymes With

avance chance danse finance naissance ordonnance puissance vengeance

Common Errors

Pronouncing the final 'e'.
Making the 'an' sound like 'on'.
Failing to pronounce the 's' at the end.
Pronouncing the first 'e' too strongly (it should be a schwa).
Confusing the nasal 'an' with 'en' (though they are often similar in modern French).

Difficulty Rating

Reading 3/5

Common in newspapers and bills, but the concept is straightforward.

Writing 4/5

Requires knowledge of specific administrative or business contexts.

Speaking 3/5

Easy to pronounce but rarely used in casual daily speech.

Listening 3/5

Clearly articulated in news and official announcements.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

payer argent facture service droit

Learn Next

fiscalité impôt exonération assujettissement contrepartie

Advanced

emphytéose prélèvement assiette fiscale contentieux jurisprudence

Grammar to Know

Nouns ending in -ance are almost always feminine.

La redevance, la chance, la finance.

The preposition 'de' is used to link the fee to the service.

La redevance de stationnement.

The verb 'payer' takes a direct object (the fee).

Je paie la redevance.

Passive voice is common in administrative descriptions of fees.

La redevance est perçue par la municipalité.

Adjectives follow the noun and agree in gender.

Une redevance élevée.

Examples by Level

Je dois payer la redevance pour l'eau.

I have to pay the water fee.

Feminine noun: 'la redevance'.

La redevance n'est pas chère.

The fee is not expensive.

Negative structure with 'être'.

Où est ma redevance ?

Where is my fee (bill)?

Possessive adjective 'ma' (feminine).

C'est une petite redevance.

It is a small fee.

Adjective 'petite' comes before the noun.

Elle paie la redevance chaque mois.

She pays the fee every month.

Present tense of 'payer'.

Il n'y a pas de redevance ici.

There is no fee here.

Negative 'pas de' followed by the noun.

La redevance est pour la télé.

The fee is for the TV.

Preposition 'pour' indicates purpose.

Merci pour la redevance.

Thank you for the fee.

Common polite expression.

Nous payons une redevance pour les ordures.

We pay a fee for the trash.

Plural subject 'nous'.

Le prix de la redevance a augmenté.

The price of the fee has increased.

Passé composé with 'avoir'.

Cette redevance est obligatoire pour tous.

This fee is mandatory for everyone.

Demonstrative adjective 'cette'.

L'auteur reçoit des redevances pour son livre.

The author receives royalties for his book.

Plural 'redevances' meaning royalties.

Voulez-vous payer la redevance maintenant ?

Do you want to pay the fee now?

Inversion for a formal question.

La redevance annuelle est de cent euros.

The annual fee is one hundred euros.

Adjective 'annuelle' matches feminine noun.

Je ne comprends pas cette redevance.

I don't understand this fee.

Negative 'ne... pas'.

Il a oublié de payer sa redevance.

He forgot to pay his fee.

Infinitive after 'oublié de'.

La redevance incitative encourage le recyclage.

The incentive fee encourages recycling.

Specific environmental vocabulary.

Vous devez vous acquitter de la redevance avant lundi.

You must settle the fee before Monday.

Formal verb 's'acquitter de'.

Le montant de la redevance dépend de votre usage.

The amount of the fee depends on your usage.

Verb 'dépendre de'.

La redevance audiovisuelle a été supprimée en France.

The TV license fee was abolished in France.

Passive voice 'a été supprimée'.

Les entreprises paient une redevance pour polluer.

Companies pay a fee to pollute (pollution fee).

Infinitive of purpose 'pour polluer'.

Cette redevance finance les transports publics.

This fee finances public transport.

Verb 'financer'.

Il existe une redevance pour l'occupation du domaine public.

There is a fee for the occupation of public space.

Impersonal 'il existe'.

Les redevances sont versées chaque trimestre.

The royalties are paid every quarter.

Plural agreement of the participle 'versées'.

La redevance est la contrepartie d'un service rendu.

The fee is the consideration for a service rendered.

Legal term 'contrepartie'.

Le franchisé doit verser une redevance proportionnelle.

The franchisee must pay a proportional fee.

Business term 'franchisé'.

L'exonération de la redevance est possible sous conditions.

Exemption from the fee is possible under conditions.

Noun 'exonération'.

Les redevances aéroportuaires pèsent sur le prix du billet.

Airport fees weigh on the ticket price.

Metaphorical use of 'peser sur'.

Le calcul de la redevance a fait l'objet d'un débat.

The calculation of the fee was the subject of a debate.

Idiom 'faire l'objet de'.

Une redevance de stationnement est perçue par la ville.

A parking fee is collected by the city.

Passive structure.

Les droits d'auteur génèrent des redevances importantes.

Verb 'générer'.

Il faut contester cette redevance devant le tribunal.

This fee must be contested before the court.

Verb 'contester'.

La redevance d'archéologie préventive est obligatoire.

The preventive archaeology fee is mandatory.

Technical legal term.

Le Conseil d'État a statué sur la nature de la redevance.

The Council of State ruled on the nature of the fee.

High-level administrative law context.

Les redevances transfrontalières sont soumises à retenue.

Cross-border royalties are subject to withholding tax.

Financial term 'retenue à la source'.

Le montant de la redevance doit être équivalent au coût.

The amount of the fee must be equivalent to the cost.

Principle of equivalence in law.

L'assujettissement à la redevance est automatique.

The liability for the fee is automatic.

Noun 'assujettissement'.

La redevance pour copie privée compense le manque à gagner.

The private copying levy compensates for lost earnings.

Economic term 'manque à gagner'.

Elle perçoit des redevances de licence à l'étranger.

She receives license royalties from abroad.

Verb 'percevoir'.

Le contrat stipule le versement d'une redevance fixe.

The contract stipulates the payment of a fixed fee.

Verb 'stipuler'.

La distinction entre taxe et redevance est parfois ténue.

The distinction between tax and fee is sometimes thin.

Nuanced academic observation.

La redevance domaniale rémunère l'usage privatif.

The state-owned property fee remunerates private use.

Specific term 'redevance domaniale'.

Le contentieux relatif à la redevance s'est intensifié.

Litigation regarding the fee has intensified.

Noun 'contentieux'.

On assiste à une fiscalisation de certaines redevances.

We are witnessing a fiscalization of certain fees.

Abstract noun 'fiscalisation'.

La redevance est assise sur le chiffre d'affaires brut.

The fee is based on the gross turnover.

Technical verb 'asseoir' (to base a tax/fee).

L'arrêt de principe définit le cadre de la redevance.

The landmark ruling defines the framework of the fee.

Legal term 'arrêt de principe'.

Les redevances de passage sont au cœur des négociations.

Right-of-way fees are at the heart of negotiations.

Infrastructure context.

Le principe de proportionnalité régit la redevance.

The principle of proportionality governs the fee.

Verb 'régir'.

Common Collocations

payer une redevance

redevance audiovisuelle

percevoir une redevance

redevance de franchise

redevance incitative

s'acquitter d'une redevance

redevance aéroportuaire

montant de la redevance

redevance de pollution

exonération de redevance

Common Phrases

être assujetti à la redevance

— To be legally required to pay the fee.

Tous les commerçants sont assujettis à cette redevance.

redevance pour service rendu

— A fee specifically for a service that was provided.

C'est une redevance pour service rendu, pas une taxe.

redevance de stationnement

— The fee paid to park a vehicle.

N'oubliez pas de payer la redevance de stationnement.

redevance d'occupation

— Fee for using public property (like a sidewalk).

La mairie demande une redevance d'occupation.

redevance d'assainissement

— Fee for water treatment and waste management.

La redevance d'assainissement figure sur la facture.

redevance de licence

— Royalty for using a software or brand license.

Le développeur reçoit une redevance de licence.

redevance minière

— Royalty for extracting minerals.

La redevance minière aide l'économie locale.

redevance de sécurité

— Fee for security services, usually at airports.

La redevance de sécurité est incluse dans le prix.

redevance domaniale

— Fee for using the state's private domain.

Le port perçoit une redevance domaniale.

redevance sur la copie privée

— Tax on blank media to compensate creators.

La redevance sur la copie privée est controversée.

Often Confused With

redevance vs taxe

A tax is often general; a redevance is for a specific service usage.

redevance vs loyer

Loyer is rent for a home; redevance can be 'rent' for a business right or service.

redevance vs amende

An amende is a punishment for a crime; a redevance is a normal payment for a service.

Idioms & Expressions

"payer sa redevance à la société"

— Metaphorically, to do one's duty or contribute to society.

En faisant du bénévolat, il paie sa redevance à la société.

Literary

"être en redevance"

— To be in debt or to owe something (archaic usage).

Il est encore en redevance envers son mentor.

Old-fashioned

"la redevance du sang"

— A poetic way to refer to military service or sacrifice.

Ils ont payé la redevance du sang pour la patrie.

Literary/Historical

"redevance morale"

— A sense of owing someone for their help or kindness.

J'ai une redevance morale envers mes parents.

Formal

"tomber sous la redevance"

— To become subject to a specific fee or obligation.

Avec ce nouveau projet, il tombe sous la redevance carbone.

Administrative

"percevoir sa juste redevance"

— To get what one deserves for their work.

L'artiste doit percevoir sa juste redevance.

Formal

"redevance de passage"

— Often used metaphorically for the price one pays to move forward.

La critique est la redevance de passage du succès.

Literary

"sans redevance"

— Without any obligation or fee attached.

Ce service est offert sans redevance aucune.

Formal

"redevance de cœur"

— An emotional debt of gratitude.

C'est une redevance de cœur que je lui dois.

Poetic

"redevance de l'histoire"

— The obligation to remember or honor the past.

Nous avons une redevance de l'histoire envers eux.

Formal

Easily Confused

redevance vs Impôt

Both are payments to the state.

Impôt has no direct 'contrepartie'; redevance is a payment for a specific service you use.

L'impôt sur le revenu finance tout le pays, mais la redevance finance votre eau.

redevance vs Prix

Both represent the cost of something.

Prix is for a simple purchase; redevance is for a recurring right or a public service fee.

Le prix du pain est fixe, mais la redevance de franchise varie.

redevance vs Cotisation

Both are periodic payments.

Cotisation is for a collective fund (like health insurance); redevance is for a specific individual service.

Ma cotisation sociale est obligatoire, ma redevance parking est liée à ma voiture.

redevance vs Redevable

It looks like the noun.

Redevable is an adjective meaning 'indebted' or 'liable' to pay the redevance.

Je suis redevable de cette somme.

redevance vs Royauté

English 'royalty' translates to 'redevance'.

In French, 'royauté' only means kings and queens, never money.

La royauté française a pris fin, mais les redevances existent toujours.

Sentence Patterns

C'est la redevance de [nom].

C'est la redevance de l'eau.

Je paie une redevance pour [nom].

Je paie une redevance pour les poubelles.

Le montant de la redevance est de [somme].

Le montant de la redevance est de cinquante euros.

Il faut s'acquitter de la redevance avant [date].

Il faut s'acquitter de la redevance avant la fin du mois.

La redevance constitue la contrepartie de [service].

La redevance constitue la contrepartie de l'usage du réseau.

L'assujettissement à la redevance résulte de [raison].

L'assujettissement à la redevance résulte de l'exploitation du brevet.

Une redevance s'applique sur [produit/activité].

Une redevance s'applique sur la copie privée.

Bénéficier d'une exonération de redevance.

Il peut bénéficier d'une exonération de redevance.

Word Family

Nouns

redevable (the person who owes)

devance (archaic, related to priority)

Verbs

redevoir (to still owe)

devancer (to precede - related distantly)

Adjectives

redevable (indebted/liable)

dette

créance

paiement

taxe

loyer

How to Use It

frequency

Common in administrative, legal, and business domains.

Common Mistakes

Using 'un redevance'. → Une redevance.
The word is feminine. All words ending in -ance are typically feminine.
Using 'royauté' for royalties. → Redevance.
'Royauté' refers to kings and queens, not financial payments.
Calling rent 'redevance'. → Loyer.
Residential rent is always 'loyer'. 'Redevance' is for services or commercial rights.
Confusing it with an 'amende'. → Redevance.
A redevance is a fee for a service; an amende is a penalty for a violation.
Saying 'taxe audiovisuelle'. → Redevance audiovisuelle.
Historically, the TV license was a redevance because it was for the service of public broadcasting.

Tips

Gender Check

Always use feminine agreements. Say 'la redevance est payée' and never 'le redevance est payé'.

Business Usage

When translating business contracts, 'redevance' is almost always the best word for 'royalty' or 'license fee'.

Avoid Royauté

Never use 'royauté' to mean money. It only refers to the monarchy. Use 'redevance' instead.

The 'Owe' Connection

Connect it to 're-devoir' (to owe again). If you use a service again, you owe a redevance again.

The Service Link

In law, a redevance must have a 'contrepartie' (benefit). If you get nothing, it's probably a tax.

Soft Start

The first 'e' is very soft. Don't say 'RAY-de-vance', say 'ruh-duh-vance'.

Bill Reading

When looking at a French water bill, the 'redevance' section is usually for sewage treatment services.

Eco-Fees

Many new environmental fees in France are called 'redevances' to show they are for a specific ecological service.

Artist Rights

Artists talk about 'percevoir' (collecting) their redevances. It's a key word for the creative industry.

Formal Tone

Using 'redevance' instead of 'prix' or 'argent' makes you sound more educated and professional in French.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Remember 'Redevance' as 'RE-DEBT-ANCE'. You 'RE-DEBT' (owe back) for a 'SERVICE'. It's the 'RE-DEBT' you pay for the 'ADVANCE' of a service.

Visual Association

Imagine a TV screen with a 'Pay Here' sign or a water tap with a coin slot. This links the payment directly to the service you are receiving.

Word Web

Service Paiement Droit Contrat État Royaltie Obligation Usage

Challenge

Try to find three different 'redevances' mentioned on a French utility bill or in a news article about French taxes.

Word Origin

Derived from the Old French verb 'redevoir', which comes from the Latin 'redebere'. It literally means 'to owe back'. The suffix '-ance' was added to form a noun representing the state of owing or the payment itself.

Original meaning: A debt or obligation that must be returned or fulfilled periodically.

Romance (Latin root)

Cultural Context

No major sensitivities, but be aware that discussing taxes and fees can be a politically charged topic in France.

In the UK, the 'TV Licence Fee' is the exact equivalent of the old French 'redevance audiovisuelle'. In the US, the term is most commonly translated as 'royalties' in business or 'user fees' in government.

The abolition of the 'redevance télé' by Emmanuel Macron in 2022. The SACEM (French songwriters association) collecting 'redevances' for music. Legal debates in the 'Conseil d'État' regarding the definition of public fees.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Water and Waste Management

redevance d'assainissement
redevance ordures ménagères
facture de redevance
calcul de la redevance

Intellectual Property

redevances de droits d'auteur
percevoir des redevances
taux de redevance
contrat de redevance

Business Franchising

redevance de franchise
redevance publicitaire
chiffre d'affaires et redevance
versement mensuel de la redevance

Transportation

redevance aéroportuaire
redevance de stationnement
redevance d'usage
hausse des redevances

Environment

redevance incitative
redevance carbone
redevance de pollution
principe pollueur-payeur

Conversation Starters

"Est-ce que vous trouvez que la redevance audiovisuelle était utile ?"

"Comment est calculée la redevance pour les déchets dans votre ville ?"

"Les artistes reçoivent-ils assez de redevances grâce au streaming ?"

"Pensez-vous qu'une redevance carbone est une bonne idée pour le climat ?"

"Quelle est la redevance la plus étrange que vous ayez dû payer ?"

Journal Prompts

Décrivez une situation où vous avez dû payer une redevance pour un service spécifique. Était-ce juste ?

Imaginez que vous êtes un auteur célèbre. Comment géreriez-vous vos redevances ?

Expliquez la différence entre une taxe et une redevance à un ami qui ne parle pas français.

Réfléchissez à l'impact de l'abolition de la redevance télé sur la qualité des programmes publics.

Écrivez une lettre formelle pour demander une exonération de redevance pour des raisons financières.

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No, the 'redevance audiovisuelle' was abolished in France in 2022. Households no longer pay this specific fee to fund public television and radio.

No, you should use 'loyer' for residential rent. 'Redevance' is only used for business rights, services, or specific government fees.

It is a waste management fee where you pay based on the weight or volume of trash you throw away, designed to encourage recycling.

It is always feminine: 'la redevance'. Remember that most French words ending in -ance are feminine.

You use 'redevance' or 'droits d'auteur'. For example: 'Il reçoit des redevances pour sa musique.'

It is a formal way to say 'to pay a fee'. It is commonly used in legal and administrative documents.

Because you only pay for the water you actually consume and the service of treating it. A tax would be a flat rate regardless of usage.

It is the fee a business owner pays to a parent company (like Subway or Zara) to use their brand and system.

Not really. It is a formal word used mostly in business, law, and when discussing bills or the news.

Technically, the initial parking fee is a 'redevance'. A fine for not paying is an 'amende' or 'forfait de post-stationnement'.