Definition
A female citizen, particularly used in French-speaking contexts or in reference to French Revolutionary ideals of citizenship and equality.
Etymology
From French 'citoyenne,' the feminine form of 'citoyen' (citizen), derived from Latin 'civitas' (state or citizenship). During the French Revolution, the term gained symbolic importance.
Kelly Says
During the French Revolution, calling women 'citoyennes' instead of 'madame' was radical—it declared them equal political beings, though actual rights took much longer to follow.
Translations
ARالعربية
مواطنة
muwāṭanatu
CACatalà
ciutadana
see-too-da-NAH
CSČeština
občanka
oh-ch-an-ka
DADansk
borgerske
bor-gers-kuh
DEDeutsch
Bürgerin
BÜR-ger-in
ELΕλληνικά
πολίτισσα
po-li-tis-sa
ESEspañol
ciudadana
see-doo-ah-NAH
FAفارسی
شهروند
sheh-roond
FISuomi
kansalainen
kan-sa-lai-nen
FRFrançais
citoyenne
si-twah-YAHN
GUGU
гражданка
grazhdanka
HAHA
grazhdanka
grazhdanka
HIहिन्दी
नागरिक
na-ga-ri-k
HUMagyar
polgárnő
pol-gar-no
IDBahasa Indonesia
warga negara
war-ga ne-ga-ra
ITItaliano
cittadina
chi-ta-DEE-nah
KKKK
гражданка
grazhdanka
KMKM
ប្រជាជន
brach-a-ch-an
MRMR
гражданка
grazhdanka
MSBahasa Melayu
warganegara
war-gan-e-ga-ra
NLNederlands
burger
bör-ger
NONorsk
borgerske
bor-gers-kuh
PAPA
гражданка
grazhdanka
PLPolski
obywatelka
oh-bee-va-tel-ka
PTPortuguês
cidadã
see-DAH
RORomână
cetățeană
che-ta-te-an-ah
RUРусский
гражданка
grazhdanka
SVSvenska
medborgare
med-borg-ah-reh
TAதமிழ்
гражданка
grazhdanka
TEతెలుగు
гражданка
grazhdanka
THไทย
พลเมือง
phon mueang
TLTL
mamamayan
ma-ma-may-an
TRTürkçe
vatandaş
va-da-SH
UKУкраїнська
громадянка
hro-ma-dyan-ka
VITiếng Việt
công dân
cong dan
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Feminine form of French citoyen, explicitly marked as female where masculine defaulted to universal. Reflects exclusion of women from full revolutionary citizenship despite the era's egalitarian rhetoric.
Inclusive Usage
Use 'citizen' or modern French inclusive forms (citoyen.ne). If historical reference needed, contextualize why feminine form was marked.
Inclusive Alternatives
["citizen","citoyen.ne"]
Empowerment Note
Women's activism during French Revolution was substantial but citizenship remained conditional and marked as exceptional. Citoyennes fought for the rights that 'citoyen' implicitly reserved for men.