mairie

town hall, mayor's office

noun meh-REE Less Common

Usage Note

Mairie is the building and administrative office of a French municipality, headed by the maire (mayor). Civil weddings in France must legally take place at the mairie; many French people say they 'got married at the mairie' even if they also had a religious ceremony. It differs from hôtel de ville, which is used for larger cities.

Examples

"Ils se sont mariés à la mairie du village."

Natural Translation

They got married at the village town hall.

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