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Technically yes the demonym is "French", but "I'm a French" just doesn't work in English. The word 'French' is almost exclusively used in English as an adjectiv
by estimator7292 6mo ago
Technically yes the demonym is "French", but "I'm a French" just doesn't work in English. The word 'French' is almost exclusively used in English as an adjective or the name of the language. It is never used as a noun for anything else. So in context, it reads as an adjective without a paired noun.
In English, you have to disambiguate be adding a noun: French person, French citizen, or Frenchman if you're old and inconsiderate.
Similarly, we don't call people "a Chinese". That construction is considered derogatory, if not outright racist. Demonyms typically cannot be used as nouns alone without a suffix. "A Brazilian" or "a Spaniard" are acceptable.
As usual for English, the rules are vague and inconsistent.
- traceroute66 6mo ago> "A Brazilian" or "a Spaniard" are acceptable. Well, context is important on the Brazilian front. ;) "I had a brazilian at my house" could have other connotations.
- Ylpertnodi 6mo agoHow many did you have at your house?
- Ylpertnodi 6mo ago> or Frenchman if you're old and inconsiderate. Or talking about a man that is French. Neither of which would be considered 'old', or 'inconsiderate".
- gpm 6mo ago"Frenchman" (one word) is always... "old and inconsiderate" is a good description. "French man" (two words) is at times still appropriate.
- troad 6mo agoNo, Frenchman is fine. It's a neutral and common descriptor, and I've far more often heard it said by French people than about them. Similar to Spaniard. Not everything needs to be perennially problematised.