Why do I need to know Jour J?

Jour J has a very specific meaning to describe a certain event in history but it is also used as an expression in everyday conversation. 

What does it mean?

Jour J – roughly pronounced jor jee – is the French equivalent of D-Day – the day when Allied forces began the Normandy Landings in 1944, which launched the Western Allied effort to liberate France from Nazi Germany. 

However it is also used to describe other important days or key dates in the calendar.

Like D-Day in English, Jour J is used figuratively in everyday conversation to refer to a big event, and in both languages the letters ‘J’ or ‘D’ do not stand for anything but are simply taken from the words Jour and Day. 

In France, you will likely see this phrase used ahead of a significant event, as a countdown.

Unlike in English however, the French also use linked military expressions to mean the build up, or days following, an important event. 

For example, in French you can describe three days before a big events a J-3, or similarly two days or one day before as J-2 and J-1, respectively. You can do the same for the days following the event, such as J+3, J+2 and J+1. 

Use it like this 

Le Jour J et la bataille de Normandie est une période de l’histoire si intéressante à étudier. – D-Day and the battle for Normandy is a very interesting period of history to study.

Mondial-2023: à J-3, Macron passe ses consignes aux Bleues – World Cup 2023: Three days to go and Macron gives his instructions to the French women’s team.