Liberty, Equality, Fraternity

"Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité"
French B1 writing exercise

Learn about the origin of the French Republic motto.

Pay attention to the hints!

Some vocabulary you may want to look up before or during this exercise: "nowadays", "to be part of", "patrimony", "a motto (country)", "to adopt", "Enlightenment philosophers", "to associate", "a concept", "the French Revolution", "Parisians", "a façade", "most of (a period)", "to remain", "until today".

Written by Qualified French Expert Aurélie Drouard HKH, Licence d'anglais LLCE
Last updated: 2023-01-12

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How the test works
You’ll practise: Le Passé Composé (Indicatif), Adjectif, Adverbe

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Nowadays, these three words are part of the French patrimony, but when did France officially adopt this motto? Enlightenment philosophers often associated the two concepts of freedom and equality, but it was during the French Revolution that the three words were used together for the first time. In 1793, Parisians started to paint on their houses' façades: "Unity and Indivisibility of the Republic: Liberty, Equality, Fraternity or Death." The motto then disappeared for most of the 19th century. Finally, in 1871, it became the French Republic's official motto and has remained so until today.

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