Jean-François Ménard

{{Short description|French translator and writer (born 1948)}}

{{infobox Person

| name = Jean-François Ménard

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1948|07|10|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Paris, France

| occupation = Writer • Translator

| known for = Translation of Harry Potter

| education = Paris Nanterre University

}}

Jean-François Ménard (born 1948){{cite news |title=Jean-François Ménard, traducteur de Harry Potter, récompensé par l'Université de Mons|trans-title=Jean-François Ménard, translator of Harry Potter, honoured by the University of Mons|url=https://www.lavenir.net/cnt/dmf20170403_00984556/jean-francois-menard-traducteur-de-harry-potter-recompense-par-l-universite-de-mons |access-date=22 September 2021 |work=L'Avenir |date=3 April 2017 |language=French}} is a French author and translator, known for translating the Harry Potter books into French. By October 2017, Ménard had translated 250 works, including The BFG by Roald Dahl and the Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer.{{cite news |last1=Chéry |first1=Lloyd |title=Harry Potter décrypté par son traducteur|trans-title=Harry Potter decoded by its translator|url=https://www.lepoint.fr/pop-culture/legende-en-anglais-harry-potter-decrypte-par-son-traducteur-26-10-2017-2167477_2920.php |access-date=22 September 2021 |work=Le Point |date=31 October 2017 |language=French}}

He studied philosophy for one year at Paris Nanterre University, coinciding with the May 1968 student protests and then went into cinema, serving as assistant director to Philippe de Broca on Les Caprices de Marie.{{cite news |last1=Mathieu |first1=Bénédicte |title=Jean-François Ménard, "Harry Potter" en VF|trans-title=Jean-François Ménard, "Harry Potter" in French|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/culture/article/2005/10/05/jean-francois-menard-harry-potter-en-vf_695928_3246.html |access-date=22 September 2021 |work=Le Monde |date=5 October 2005 |language=French}} Starting from the 1970s, he wrote original children's literature for Gallimard Jeunesse, before moving on to translations.

Ménard came up with his own French-language names for features of the Harry Potter books. For example, the Sorting Hat became a choixpeau, a cross between choix (choice) and chapeau (hat). He translated Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince in two months, commenting that it was more difficult than previous translations due to J.K. Rowling's improved writing and the intensity of the narrative.

On 31 March 2017, Ménard was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Mons in Belgium.