Could Winston Churchill Speak French?

Question

I've heard him giving words of encouragement to the French in their language, but one could learn that without actually understaning it. Could he communicate freely in the language? Any evidence? Thanks.

Answer 1

Very poorly. (He struggled with Latin too, as he recounted in his memoirs.)

"There’s a hilarious description of this occasion in Sir John Colville’s diaries."

"One of Churchill’s troubles was his belief that he could speak French, which undermined him but in a rather paradoxical way. Churchill first believed the way to show his displeasure at de Gaulle was not to address him in atrocious French as was his habit, but to speak stiffly to him through an interpreter. At first Colville was commanded to do this but he was dismissed after about three sentences—Churchill said he wasn’t interpreting his phrases roughly enough. An official foreign office interpreter was sent for, but he too lasted only a short time. Finally Churchill plunged on alone in his own inimitable French. On one occasion he is reputed to have said (I believe this is true, though a lot of stories are apocryphal): "Si your m’obstaderez je vous liquiderai. "Now I don’t think he really ever wanted to liquidate de Gaulle. One, because de Gaulle was by then very popular in France, and two, because Churchill was sentimental and de Gaulle was part of the golden myth of 1940."

"They plowed on alone for an hour and a half, Churchill wanting de Gaulle to pay him the compliment of looking as though he comprehended his French. When Colville came back in, the whole thing had dissolved into a completely hopeless position because they were sitting together on the sofa and de Gaulle was smoking one of Churchill's cigars, which he had given him as a peace offering, while Churchill was still orating in his particular brand of French!"

"PROCEEDINGS of the International Churchill Societies 1994-95", Professor Ged Martin, Director of Canadian Studies, University of Edinburgh : http://www.winstonchurchill.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=622

"Sgt. Murray himself painted, as he describes in his book, and was well attuned to Churchill's idiosyncrasies in this field. He was particularly useful in the increasing periods that Churchill spent in the South of France in his retirement, where his fluent French ensured smooth liaison with the local police."

""I Was Winston Churchill's Bodyguard" : http://www.winstonchurchill.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=749

"The author is also given to liberal uses of the French Language, often illustrating how Churchill's poor French was easily misinterpreted."

"Churchill: A Biography ", Roy Jenkins, review :

Answer 2

I am afraid I don't know whether or not he was fluent, but I do know that he did speak and understand some French. However, communicating freely is an entirely different ball game.

In his 6-volume history of WWII, called "The Second World War," he refers to meetings with French politicians before they capitulated to the Germans. He makes references to speaking confidentially with French officials in French. He also refers to speaking with Charles de Gaulle, and going back to speaking English as de Gaulle's English was better than his French. Another thing he notes is that he understood asides made by the French diplomats, and did not need the services of his translator to understand them. (He was a bear about having everything written down, so all meetings in which he took part had an official record keeper who kept notes word-for-word. When meeting with people who might have reason to speak another language, he always made sure his note taker was fluent in the foreign language involved.) Finally, when the French wanted to speak privately, he and his aides left the room. There's no need to do that if you don't speak the language.

I would imagine, simply from what I know about English gentlemen of the era, that he did study French in school, as well as Latin and/or Greek. French was considered one of the languages of diplomacy and politics back then, so I am sure he had some instruction at some point.

Churchill refused to let anyone else write his speeches for him, so I have a hard time believing he would write a speech in English and then have someone on his staff translate it for him. While I cannot be 100% certain, I believe when he spoke to the French, he was using his own skills. He might have needed help here and there with a certain word or phrase, but I think it's most likely, from what I have read of him, that he was mainly using his own French.

I wish I could give you a more definitive answer, but that's all I know.

Answer 3

Winston Churchill's French was best described as schoolboy French. So that by the fall of France in 1940, he was able to go on air with the BBC and speak to the French people and to encourage them.

As the war progressed and Winston had a lot of contact with Chas De Gaulle and the Free French in London, no doubt his French improved with time.

A French friend of mine said she thought Winston's French was quite good, for an English schoolboy.

The only British person who speaks excellent French is HM Queen. I am informed by my French friend that the Queen, when speaking French, sounds like French royalty. If you can imagine that.

Always remember that our soverign, HM Queen still retains the title of Duke of Normandy.

Answer 4

Yes he could speak French, but slowly and with an extreme slur and accent.
He was understandable though and during his days at the front in 1917 / 1918 and once again in 1939 - 1940 communicated with the French Allies.

Answer 5

I believe he couldn't! Never heard him speaking French except for a few words and even at this level he had a strong accent !
Queen Elizabeth does speak French well! Mr Tony Blair speaks rather good French too!

Answer 6

In short, badly.

Au clair de la lune!
Si vous bombardez nous--
nous bombardez vous!

In the 1960 book Irrepressible Churchill, K. Halle reports that Churchill was overheard saying this at a dinner meeting with August Nogues, the President General of Morocco, who Churchill suspected of having Nazi sympathies. Translated, it goes, "By the light of the moon! If you bombard us--we bombard you!" Churchill spoke a heavily Anglicized version of French that so bothered some people they felt compelled to correct him (feedback he usually took with good humor). He once quipped to Anthony Eden, "Will you please stop translating my French into French!" His most memorable French faux pas came when he said in a Paris speech: Quand je considère mon derrière, je constate qu'il est divisé en deuz parties égales. What he meant to say was, "When I consider what is behind me. . ." but in fact said, "When I consider my behind, I can state that it is divided into two equal parts."

Answer 7

As said above he was known for his atrocious French. He probably understood it much better than he spoke it, and he also probably played it up but noone who ever spoke to him in French could say without laughing that he could communicate freely in French.

Answer 8

He knew a li'l bit of French, but not very comfortable with the language!

Answer 9

He could speak French, but in an appalling accent.

Answer 10

non, mais possible un petit