What are the French terms for English rhythmic values, singular and plural, such as:
sixteenth notes; eighth notes; quarter notes; half notes; and, whole notes?
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1 Answer
Plural mark is indicated between parenthesis
Notes
A “note” is “une note”, plural “des notes”.
Breve: carrée(s) n.f. (seldom used, I just discovered it)
Semibreve (whole note): ronde(s) n.f.
Minim (half note): blanche(s) n.f
Crotchet (quarter note): noire(s) n.f.
Quaver (eight note): croche(s) n.f.
Semiquaver (sixteenth note): double(s) croche(s) n.f.
Demisemiquaver (32nd note): triple(s) croche(s) n.f.- Hemidemisemiquaver (64th note): quadruple(s) croche(s) n.f.
And so on, quintuple(s) croche(s), sextuple(s) croche(s), …
In “double croche”, “triple croche”, etc., the term “croche” is often dropped if it already appeared in the same rhythm. “A dotted quaver—semiquaver”, e.g., is referred to as “une croche pointée-double”, seldom as “une croche pointée-double croche”.
Rests
A “rest” is “un silence”, plural “des silences”.
- Breve rest: double(s) pause(s) n.f. or bâton(s) de pause n.m.
Semibreve rest (whole rest): pause(s) n.f.
Minim rest (half rest): demi-pause(s) n.f.
Crotchet rest (quarter rest): soupir(s) n.m.
Quaver rest (eight rest): demi-soupir(s) n.m.
Semiquaver rest (sixteenth rest): quart(s) de soupir n.m.
Demisemiquaver rest (32nd rest): huitième(s) de soupir n.m.- Hemidemisemiquaver rest (64th rest): seizième(s) de soupir n.m.
And so on, trente-deuxième(s) de soupir, soixante-quatrième(s) de soupir, …
Tuplets
There is no general term to designate a tuplet. Tuplet, in french, are all masculine.
- Duplet: duolet(s) n.m.
- Triplet: triolet(s) n.m.
- Quadruplet: quartolet(s) n.m.
- Quintuplet: quintolet(s) n.m.
- Sextuplet (or whatever term you prefer): sextolet(s) n.m.
- Septuplets: septolet(s) n.m.
“Triplet quavers” are “un triolet de noires”.
Dotted notes
The dot itself is called “point (de prolongation)”. A “double dot” is “un double point”; “triple dote”, “triple point”.
A “dotted crotchet” is a “noire pointée”; “double pointed semibreve” is “blanche double-pointée”; “triple-dotted breve” would be “ronde triple-pointée”.
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1In my vision, "une note" = "un temps" = "une noire". But i don't know the english system... (While "une ronde" is worth "quatre temps"). That's what I learned in France...– mverooneCommented Aug 29, 2013 at 9:06
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“Une note” can design only a pitch or the symbol representing pitch and rhythm; in the second case, "une note” does need to last exactly “un temps” (one beat) nor “une noire”. Moreover, “une noire” does not always correspond to “un temps”; e.g., in a 2/2 or 6/8 metre. In the American system, the reference duration is the “whole note” (semibreve in Br.E.), which I guess has roots in former usage and make sense from a metre notation p.o.v. After all, a 4/4 measure lasts a semibreve, and 4/4 = 1.– ÉdouardCommented Aug 29, 2013 at 9:38
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It may be intresting to link the name to the symbol then, in order to avoid misunderstandings like I did reading your post.– mverooneCommented Aug 29, 2013 at 9:44
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1Although I wouldn’t consider it a solid reference, the Lilypond glossary remains very practical.– ÉdouardCommented Aug 29, 2013 at 16:58
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1I never heard of it, nor can find any reference anywhere else. It is not even in the Lilypond glossary. “n-olet” (pronounce the n as the letter) make sense to generalise to any n (“17-olet”), but “nolet”? I’d need more convincing.– ÉdouardCommented Aug 30, 2013 at 9:11