-
What are the longest words in the French language?
Impress native speakers with your extensive vocabulary
-
Tips for getting a (French) word in edgeways
Want to practise your French in France? These are the places to avoid
-
French mechanic finds stolen motorbike 24 years later on Leboncoin
The vintage bike has a long history but the owner had lost hope of finding it again
Where does the French word grève come from?
The French word ‘grève’ which now refers to protest movements and strikes originally came from the Gallic word grava, meaning thick sand and gravel.
In the 17th century, on the right bank of the Seine in Paris there was a port, port de la Grève, which gave birth to a square known as Place de Grève – so named as the place was submerged in coarse sand.
This square – now known as place de l’Hôtel-de-Ville – was a place where executions were frequent and the first guillotine was installed there.
But it was also a place of gatherings for unemployed people to find work. There was a lot of activity around the port and people could easily find a job there.
The expression ‘faire grève’ at the time meant to look for work.
But the meaning changed in the 19th century, when dissatisfied workers gathered in the same square to protest about work conditions and gave us its current day meaning.
Stay informed:
Sign up to our free weekly e-newsletter
Subscribe to access all our online articles and receive our printed monthly newspaper The Connexion at your home. News analysis, features and practical help for English-speakers in France