If you have ever come across bourgeois and bourgeoisie in a text and wondered whether they mean the same thing, you are dealing with two closely related French loanwords that serve different grammatical functions in English. While both relate to social class, one refers to a group of people, and the other describes individuals or characteristics associated with that group. Here is a complete breakdown of the difference and how to use each term correctly.
What Is the Basic Difference
Bourgeoisie is a noun referring to the middle or upper middle social class as a collective group, historically associated with property ownership, business, and capital. Bourgeois functions primarily as an adjective describing something related to that class, though it can also refer to an individual member of that class.
Quick Definition
| Word | Function | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Bourgeoisie | Noun | The middle or upper middle class as a collective group |
| Bourgeois | Adjective (or noun for an individual) | Relating to or characteristic of that class |
Example
Bourgeoisie: “The bourgeoisie gained significant economic influence during the industrial era”
Bourgeois: “Critics described the lifestyle as distinctly bourgeois”
Where These Words Come From
Both words originate from French, tracing back to the Old French term burgeis, referring to a town dweller or citizen, which itself derived from bourg, meaning a small market town or fortified settlement.
| Language Stage | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Old French | Bourg | Small town or settlement |
| Old French | Burgeis | Town dweller or citizen |
| French | Bourgeois | Belonging to the town dwelling, property owning class |
| French | Bourgeoisie | The collective class of bourgeois individuals |
Historically, the bourgeoisie referred specifically to town residents who were neither peasants nor nobility, often merchants, artisans, and property owners who occupied a distinct social and economic position between the aristocracy and the working class.
Bourgeoisie as a Noun
Bourgeoisie functions as a collective noun, referring to an entire social class rather than a single person.
Example Sentences
- “The bourgeoisie played a central role in the economic development of European cities”
- “Marxist theory frequently discusses the relationship between the bourgeoisie and the working class”
- “Historians have studied how the bourgeoisie’s influence grew during the nineteenth century”
Because bourgeoisie refers to a group as a whole, it is typically treated as a singular noun in English, even though it describes many people collectively.
Bourgeois as an Adjective
Bourgeois most commonly functions as an adjective in modern English, describing something associated with middle class values, tastes, or lifestyle, often with a connotation of conventionality or materialism.
Example Sentences
- “The apartment had a distinctly bourgeois charm, with tasteful furniture and quiet elegance”
- “Some critics viewed the artwork as overly bourgeois in its themes”
- “Their bourgeois lifestyle centered around stability, property, and social respectability”
In many contexts, especially in cultural or political commentary, bourgeois carries a slightly critical or ironic tone, suggesting conformity, materialism, or excessive concern with social status.
Bourgeois as a Noun for an Individual
While less common than its adjective form, bourgeois can also function as a noun referring to a single member of the bourgeoisie.
Example Sentence
“He was often criticized as a comfortable bourgeois, detached from the struggles of the working class”
In this usage, bourgeois describes one person belonging to that broader social class, rather than the class as a whole.
Bourgeois and Bourgeoisie Side by Side
Seeing these two words compared directly helps clarify their distinct grammatical roles.
| Word | Part of Speech | Refers To |
|---|---|---|
| Bourgeoisie | Noun (collective) | The entire social class |
| Bourgeois | Adjective | Qualities or characteristics associated with that class |
| Bourgeois | Noun (individual) | A single member of that class |
Example Comparison
Referring to the group: “The bourgeoisie controlled much of the era’s industrial wealth”
Describing a quality: “The novel critiques bourgeois complacency”
Referring to an individual: “He was raised in a comfortable bourgeois household”
Pronunciation Differences
Because both words come from French, their pronunciation can also cause confusion for English speakers.
| Word | Pronunciation |
|---|---|
| Bourgeois | boor-ZHWAH |
| Bourgeoisie | boor-zhwah-ZEE |
Notice that bourgeoisie adds an additional syllable at the end, reflecting its function as a broader collective term rather than a simple descriptive adjective.
Historical and Political Context
Both terms carry significant historical weight, particularly in discussions of economics, sociology, and political theory. In classical Marxist theory, the bourgeoisie refers specifically to the property owning class that controls the means of production, historically contrasted with the proletariat, or working class.
| Term | Marxist Context |
|---|---|
| Bourgeoisie | The capitalist class owning businesses, property, and production |
| Proletariat | The working class, selling labor rather than owning capital |
Outside of formal political theory, both bourgeois and bourgeoisie are also used more broadly in everyday language to describe middle class values, tastes, or lifestyles, often without any specific political framing.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake One: Using Bourgeois When Referring to the Entire Class
Incorrect: “The bourgeois gained significant political power” (when referring to the entire class as a whole) Correct: “The bourgeoisie gained significant political power”
Mistake Two: Using Bourgeoisie as an Adjective
Incorrect: “The apartment felt very bourgeoisie” Correct: “The apartment felt very bourgeois”
Mistake Three: Confusing Singular and Plural Usage
Since bourgeoisie already functions as a collective noun, it does not typically take a plural form like bourgeoisies in standard usage, except in very specific comparative contexts discussing multiple distinct national or historical bourgeoisies.
Bourgeois and Bourgeoisie in Everyday and Academic Writing
Both terms appear across sociology, history, literature, and cultural commentary, often carrying slightly different tones depending on context.
Academic or Historical Writing
“The rise of the bourgeoisie significantly reshaped European economic structures during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries”
Cultural or Everyday Commentary
“The neighborhood had a noticeably bourgeois atmosphere, filled with boutique shops and quiet cafes”
Quick Reference Table
| Word | Part of Speech | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Bourgeoisie | Noun (collective class) | “The bourgeoisie expanded rapidly during industrialization” |
| Bourgeois | Adjective | “Their bourgeois taste favored elegant simplicity” |
| Bourgeois | Noun (individual) | “He was seen as a typical bourgeois professional” |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between bourgeois and bourgeoisie? Bourgeoisie refers to the entire social class as a collective group, while bourgeois functions mainly as an adjective describing traits associated with that class, though it can also describe an individual member.
Is bourgeoisie always plural in meaning? While it refers to many people collectively, bourgeoisie is grammatically treated as a singular noun in English.
Can bourgeois be used to describe a person? Yes, though less commonly than its adjective form, bourgeois can refer to an individual belonging to the bourgeoisie.
Do these words only apply to historical or political discussions? No, while they carry significant meaning in historical and political theory, both words are also commonly used in everyday language to describe middle class lifestyle, taste, or values.
How are bourgeois and bourgeoisie pronounced differently? Bourgeois is pronounced boor-ZHWAH, while bourgeoisie adds an extra syllable, pronounced boor-zhwah-ZEE.
Final Thoughts
While bourgeois and bourgeoisie share the same French origin and relate closely to social class, they serve distinct grammatical roles in English. Bourgeoisie refers to the collective social class as a whole, while bourgeois functions primarily as an adjective describing characteristics associated with that class, and occasionally as a noun referring to an individual. Understanding this distinction helps ensure accurate and clear communication, whether you are writing about history, sociology, or everyday cultural observations.
