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Glite Dictionary
langue d'oil

langue d'oil

9.9
A group of old French dialects spoken in northern and central France in the Middle Ages
  • noun
  • /lɑŋ dɔɪl/
  • Specialized
translation icon : lengua de oil
  • The langue d'oil dialects influenced the development of modern French.

Examples

  • The langue d'oil was prevalent in northern France during the Middle Ages.

  • The distinction between langue d'oil and langue d'oc regions is important in French linguistic history.

  • Many modern French words originate from the langue d'oil dialects.

  • Many scholars study the langues d'oil to understand French history.

  • The langue d'oil was the foundation for many modern French words and phrases.

  • During the Middle Ages, the langue d'oil was commonly spoken in northern France.

  • Historically, the langue d'oil dialects represent an important phase in the evolution of the French language.

Synonyms

Langue d'oïl French
vslangue d'oil
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of old French dialects spoken in northern and central France that used 'oïl' for yes

is about the same dialect group but stresses their later development into standard French

Surface Forms

langue d'oil singular
langues d'oil plural

Morphology

langue + d'oil

While 'langue' clearly means 'language', the element 'd'oil' is an archaic/foreign morpheme (from Old French oïl meaning 'yes') and is not interpretable as the English word 'oil' by a B1 learner. The term is a lexicalized historical label for a specific group of medieval dialects, so its full meaning cannot be derived from the apparent constituents and would likely be misunderstood without prior exposure.

Etymology

Langue d'oil comes from the simple old word oil, which people in northern France used long ago for 'yes'. So it meant the 'language of "oil"' and was the name for the old northern ways of speaking that later grew into modern 'French'.