The French language, furansugo vs futsugo


I've always used ''furansugo'' to express the French language.

But I've noticed another word, namely ''futsugo'' which also means French.

My guess is that ''furansugo'' is used in normal speech whereas ''futsugo'' is
only used in very formal speech.

Any insight into these two words?

When do I use each and is one older than the other?




> _My guess is that ''furansugo'' is used in normal speech whereas ''futsugo''
> is only used in very formal speech._

You're on the right track. Nowadays the only European language called by its
kanji name in speech is 英語. I'd say that it's rather inevitable because if you
say イギリス語 it'd sound like "British English".

So, virtually nobody use 仏語【ふつご】 instead of フランス語 in conversation, but it is
very common in writing because of the breathtaking 250% space saving and some
formal feel. (See also: [私は米国人です vs
私はアメリカ人です](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/q/19550/7810) and [this
particular answer](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/a/14558/7810))

Beware of a homograph
[仏語【ぶつご】](https://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/jn/193523/meaning/m0u/) that means
"Buddha's words".




> _My guess is that ''furansugo'' is used in normal speech whereas ''futsugo''
> is only used in very formal speech._

You're on the right track. Nowadays the only European language called by its
kanji name in speech is 英語. I'd say that it's rather inevitable because if you
say イギリス語 it'd sound like "British English".

So, virtually nobody use 仏語【ふつご】 instead of フランス語 in conversation, but it is
very common in writing because of the breathtaking 250% space saving and some
formal feel. (See also: [私は米国人です vs
私はアメリカ人です](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/q/19550/7810) and [this
particular answer](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/a/14558/7810))

Beware of a homograph
[仏語【ぶつご】](https://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/jn/193523/meaning/m0u/) that means
"Buddha's words".

