préfecture

prefecture

noun preh-fehk-TÜR Rare

Origin: Latin praefectura (office of a prefect)

Usage Note

Préfecture refers to the administrative headquarters of a French département — the building where official documents such as driving licences, residency permits, and vehicle registrations are processed. La préfecture de police in Paris is especially well known. The head official is le préfet (masculine) or la préfète (feminine).

Examples

"Il faut aller à la préfecture pour le visa."

Natural Translation

You have to go to the prefecture for the visa.

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