créances et dettes

English translation: receivables and payables, accounts receivable and accounts payable

15:32 Feb 26, 2001
French to English translations [Non-PRO]
Bus/Financial
French term or phrase: créances et dettes
Can anyone explain the difference between these terms and how should they be translated?
Bewley
English translation:receivables and payables, accounts receivable and accounts payable
Explanation:
Same answer as previous person, but it's worth adding that in France at least, the basic distinction, especially if you're in financial statements, is that a "créance" is an amount owing to you (and an asset)while a "dette" is an amount you owe to someone else (and included in liabilities). So yes, they're both debts but not in the same "direction".
Selected response from:

Buzzy
Local time: 10:16
Grading comment
Many thanks. A very useful answer and explanation.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
nasee further
Albert Golub
nareceivables and payables, assets and liabilities
egmtrad
nareceivables and payables, accounts receivable and accounts payable
Buzzy


  

Answers


16 mins
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Explanation:
translation
debt=dette robert & collins translates debt for each of its entries (13 different entries) so debt=dette in every case
for créance=debt,claim, receivables, liabilities,loan so it seems to have more meanings
i would say that in general has a more specific legal and commercial sense
a "dette" becomes a "créance" once justice takes care of it!
hope it helps a bit

Albert Golub
Local time: 10:16
Native speaker of: French
PRO pts in pair: 359
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1 hr
receivables and payables, assets and liabilities


Explanation:
My Accounting, Finance and Tax Dictionary (CABINET SAXCE) lists \"créances et dettes\" separately as an expression meaning \"receivables and payables, assets and liabilities\". Depending on how the words are used in your text, you might want to consider translating the expression, rather than the two words separately. Otherwise, I pretty much agree with the previous answer.
Hope this helps!


    Accounting, Finance and Tax Dictionary
egmtrad
United States
Local time: 04:16
PRO pts in pair: 8

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
AVST
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9 hrs
receivables and payables, accounts receivable and accounts payable


Explanation:
Same answer as previous person, but it's worth adding that in France at least, the basic distinction, especially if you're in financial statements, is that a "créance" is an amount owing to you (and an asset)while a "dette" is an amount you owe to someone else (and included in liabilities). So yes, they're both debts but not in the same "direction".

Buzzy
Local time: 10:16
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in pair: 377
Grading comment
Many thanks. A very useful answer and explanation.
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



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