Bilingual glossary

The key terms of the IAS / IFRS standards with their French or English equivalent and a short definition. The reference in brackets gives the source standard.

125 terms

English	French	Definition
Accounting estimate	Estimation comptable	A monetary amount in the financial statements that is subject to measurement uncertainty (IAS 8).
Acquisition method	Méthode de l’acquisition	The method of accounting for business combinations: identifying the acquirer, the acquisition date, and measuring the identifiable assets and liabilities and goodwill (IFRS 3).
Amortised cost	Coût amorti	The amount at initial measurement, minus principal repayments, plus or minus the cumulative amortisation (effective interest method) and adjusted for any loss allowance (IFRS 9).
Associate	Entreprise associée	An entity over which the investor has significant influence; it is accounted for using the equity method (IAS 28).
Biological asset	Actif biologique	A living animal or plant (IAS 41).
Borrowing cost	Coût d’emprunt	Interest and other costs that an entity incurs in connection with the borrowing of funds (IAS 23).
Business combination	Regroupement d’entreprises	A transaction or other event in which an acquirer obtains control of one or more businesses (IFRS 3).
Business model	Modèle économique	How the entity manages its financial assets in order to generate cash flows: collecting contractual cash flows, selling, or both (IFRS 9).
Carry forward / carry back	Report en avant / en arrière	The application of a tax loss against taxable profits of later or earlier periods (IAS 12).
Cash-generating unit (CGU)	Unité génératrice de trésorerie (UGT)	The smallest identifiable group of assets that generates cash inflows that are largely independent (IAS 36).
Compound financial instrument	Instrument financier composé	An instrument that contains both a liability component and an equity component, presented separately (IAS 32).
Constructive obligation	Obligation implicite	An obligation that derives from an entity’s actions that have created a valid expectation in other parties that it will accept certain responsibilities (IAS 37).
Contingent asset	Actif éventuel	A possible asset arising from past events, whose existence will be confirmed only by uncertain future events not wholly within the control of the entity; it is not recognised (IAS 37).
Contingent liability	Passif éventuel	A possible obligation whose existence will depend on uncertain future events, or a present obligation that is not recognised because an outflow is not probable or the amount cannot be measured reliably (IAS 37).
Contract	Contrat (IFRS 15)	An agreement between two or more parties that creates enforceable rights and obligations (IFRS 15).
Contract asset	Actif sur contrat	An entity’s right to consideration in exchange for goods or services already transferred to the customer, when that right is conditional on something other than the passage of time (IFRS 15).
Contract liability	Passif sur contrat	An obligation to transfer goods or services to a customer for which the entity has already received consideration or for which an amount is due (IFRS 15).
Contractual service margin (CSM)	Marge sur services contractuelle (MSC)	The component of the liability for a group of insurance contracts that represents unearned profit, recognised in profit or loss as services are provided (IFRS 17).
Control	Contrôle	Power over the investee, exposure to variable returns and the ability to use that power to affect those returns (IFRS 10).
Costs of disposal	Coûts de sortie (coûts de la vente)	Incremental costs directly attributable to the disposal of an asset, excluding finance costs and income tax (IAS 36, IFRS 5).
Current tax	Impôt exigible	The amount of income tax payable (recoverable) in respect of the taxable profit (tax loss) for a period (IAS 12).
Customer	Client	A party that has contracted with the entity to obtain goods or services that are an output of its ordinary activities in exchange for consideration (IFRS 15).
Date of transition to IFRSs	Date de transition aux IFRS	The beginning of the earliest period for which an entity presents full comparative information under IFRS Standards (IFRS 1).
Deferred tax	Impôt différé	Income tax payable or recoverable in respect of temporary differences, unused tax losses and unused tax credits (IAS 12).
Deferred tax asset	Actif d’impôt différé	Income taxes recoverable in future periods in respect of deductible temporary differences, unused tax losses and unused tax credits (IAS 12).
Deferred tax liability	Passif d’impôt différé	Income taxes payable in future periods in respect of taxable temporary differences (IAS 12).
Defined benefit plan	Régime à prestations définies	A post-employment plan other than a defined contribution plan (IAS 19).
Defined contribution plan	Régime à cotisations définies	A post-employment plan under which the entity pays fixed contributions into a separate entity and has no legal or constructive obligation to pay further amounts (IAS 19).
Depreciation / Amortisation	Amortissement	The systematic allocation of the depreciable amount of an asset over its useful life; ‘depreciation’ for property, plant and equipment, ‘amortisation’ for intangible assets.
Derecognition	Décomptabilisation	The removal of an asset or a liability from the statement of financial position (Conceptual Framework, IFRS 9).
Derivative	Dérivé	A financial instrument whose value changes in response to an underlying, that requires no significant net initial investment and that is settled at a future date (IFRS 9).
Development costs	Frais de développement	The application of research findings to a plan or design for the production of new or substantially improved products or processes; they are capitalised if six criteria are demonstrated (IAS 38).
Discontinued operation	Activité abandonnée	A component of an entity that has been disposed of or is classified as held for sale and that represents a separate major line of business or geographical area of operations (IFRS 5).
Discounting	Actualisation	Calculation of the present value of future cash flows using a discount rate; unwinding is the finance cost that results as time passes.
Disposal group	Groupe destiné à être cédé	A group of assets to be disposed of together in a single transaction, together with the liabilities directly associated with those assets (IFRS 5).
Earnings per share (EPS)	Résultat par action (RPA)	Profit or loss attributable to ordinary equity holders divided by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding (IAS 33).
Effective interest method	Méthode du taux d’intérêt effectif (TIE)	A method of calculating amortised cost and of allocating interest income or expense over the relevant period (IFRS 9).
Effective tax rate	Taux d’impôt effectif	The tax expense divided by profit before tax, reconciled to the applicable tax rate (IAS 12).
Embedded derivative	Dérivé incorporé	A component of a hybrid contract, which also includes a non-derivative host contract, that causes some of the contract’s cash flows to vary in a way similar to a stand-alone derivative (IFRS 9).
Employee benefits	Avantages du personnel	All forms of consideration given by the entity in exchange for services rendered by its employees (IAS 19).
Equity	Capitaux propres	The residual interest in the assets of the entity after deducting all its liabilities (Conceptual Framework).
Equity instrument	Instrument de capitaux propres	A contract that evidences a residual interest in the assets of an entity after deducting all of its liabilities (IAS 32).
Equity method	Méthode de la mise en équivalence	A method whereby the investment is initially recognised at cost and then adjusted for the investor’s share of the net assets of the investee (IAS 28).
Event after the reporting period	Événement postérieur à la date de clôture	A favourable or unfavourable event that occurs between the end of the reporting period and the date when the financial statements are authorised for issue (IAS 10).
Exchange difference	Écart de change	The difference resulting from translating a given number of units of a foreign currency into the functional currency at different exchange rates (IAS 21).
Expected credit loss	Perte de crédit attendue (ECL)	The weighted average of credit losses, with the respective risks of a default occurring as the weights (IFRS 9).
Fair value	Juste valeur	The price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (IFRS 13).
Fair value hierarchy	Hiérarchie des justes valeurs	The classification of the inputs to valuation techniques into three levels according to their observability (IFRS 13).
Fair value through other comprehensive income (FVOCI)	Juste valeur par autres éléments du résultat global (JVOCI)	A measurement category for certain financial assets whose changes in fair value are recognised in other comprehensive income (IFRS 9).
Fair value through profit or loss (FVTPL)	Juste valeur par le résultat net (JVRN)	A measurement category whose changes in fair value are recognised in profit or loss (IFRS 9).
Finance lease	Location-financement	For the lessor, a lease that transfers substantially all the risks and rewards incidental to ownership of the underlying asset (IFRS 16).
Financial asset	Actif financier	Cash, an equity instrument of another entity, a contractual right to receive cash or another financial asset, or certain contracts settled in the entity’s own equity instruments (IAS 32.11).
Financial instrument	Instrument financier	A contract that gives rise to a financial asset of one entity and a financial liability or equity instrument of another entity (IAS 32).
Financial liability	Passif financier	A contractual obligation to deliver cash or another financial asset, or to exchange instruments under conditions that are potentially unfavourable (IAS 32).
Financing category	Catégorie financement	The category of the statement of profit or loss that comprises income and expenses relating to the entity’s financing liabilities and certain other items (IFRS 18).
Functional currency	Monnaie fonctionnelle	The currency of the primary economic environment in which the entity operates (IAS 21).
Goodwill	Écart d’acquisition (goodwill)	An asset representing the future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified; it is not amortised but is tested for impairment annually (IFRS 3, IAS 36).
Government grant	Subvention publique	Government assistance in the form of a transfer of resources to an entity in return for past or future compliance with certain conditions (IAS 20).
Hedge accounting	Comptabilité de couverture	An accounting treatment that matches in profit or loss the effects of the hedging instrument and those of the hedged item (IFRS 9).
Hedging instrument	Instrument de couverture	A designated instrument whose fair value or cash flows are expected to offset changes in those of the hedged item (IFRS 9).
Highly probable	Hautement probable (limitation de la contrepartie variable)	The threshold for constraining variable consideration: it is highly probable that a significant reversal in the cumulative amount of revenue recognised will not occur (IFRS 15).
Hyperinflation	Hyperinflation	An economic situation in which, among other indicators, the cumulative inflation rate over three years approaches or exceeds 100%; the financial statements are restated (IAS 29).
IFRS Interpretations Committee	Comité d’interprétation des IFRS (IFRS IC)	The committee that addresses questions on the application of the Standards; it issues interpretations (IFRIC) and agenda decisions.
Impairment	Dépréciation	A situation in which the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its recoverable amount (IAS 36); for financial instruments, the recognition of expected credit losses (IFRS 9).
Impairment loss	Perte de valeur	The amount by which the carrying amount of an asset or a cash-generating unit exceeds its recoverable amount (IAS 36).
Incremental borrowing rate	Taux d’emprunt marginal	The rate of interest that a lessee would have to pay to borrow over a similar term, and with a similar security, the funds necessary to obtain an asset of a similar value (IFRS 16).
Initial recognition exemption	Exemption de comptabilisation initiale	An exception to the recognition of deferred tax on the initial recognition of an asset or liability in certain transactions (IAS 12.15 and 24).
Insurance contract	Contrat d’assurance	A contract under which one party accepts significant insurance risk from another party by agreeing to compensate that party if a specified uncertain future event adversely affects it (IFRS 17).
Intangible asset	Immobilisation incorporelle	An identifiable non-monetary asset without physical substance (IAS 38).
Investing category	Catégorie investissement	The category of the statement of profit or loss that comprises income and expenses from assets that generate a return largely independently of the entity’s other resources (IFRS 18).
Investment entity	Entité d’investissement	An entity that obtains funds from investors to provide them with investment management services, solely for the purpose of earning returns, and measures its investments at fair value (IFRS 10).
Investment property	Immeuble de placement	Property held to earn rentals or for capital appreciation, and not for use in the production or sale of goods or services (IAS 40).
Items of OCI that will / will not be reclassified to profit or loss	Éléments du résultat global recyclables / non recyclables	Items of other comprehensive income that are or are not reclassified to profit or loss in subsequent periods (IAS 1, IFRS 18).
Joint control	Contrôle conjoint	The contractually agreed sharing of control of an arrangement, which exists only when decisions about the relevant activities require the unanimous consent of the parties (IFRS 11).
Joint operation	Entreprise commune	A joint arrangement in which the parties have rights to the assets, and obligations for the liabilities, relating to the arrangement (IFRS 11).
Joint venture	Coentreprise	A joint arrangement in which the parties that have joint control have rights to the net assets of the arrangement; it is accounted for using the equity method (IFRS 11, IAS 28).
Lease	Contrat de location	A contract that conveys the right to control the use of an identified asset for a period of time in exchange for consideration (IFRS 16).
Lease liability	Obligation locative	The lessee’s liability equal to the present value of the lease payments not yet paid (IFRS 16).
Management-defined performance measure (MPM)	Mesure de performance définie par la direction (MPM)	A subtotal of income and expenses used in public communications to express management’s view of performance, other than subtotals specified by IFRS Standards (IFRS 18).
Material accounting policy information	Informations significatives sur les méthodes comptables	Accounting policy information that could reasonably be expected to influence the decisions of users of financial statements (IAS 1, IFRS 18).
Material information	Information significative	Information whose omission, misstatement or obscuring could reasonably be expected to influence the decisions of users of financial statements (Conceptual Framework, IAS 1, IFRS 18).
Materiality	Matérialité	The threshold of importance above which information influences users’ decisions; assessed by nature and amount.
Net realisable value	Valeur nette de réalisation (VNR)	The estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business less the estimated costs of completion and the estimated costs necessary to make the sale (IAS 2).
Non-controlling interest (NCI)	Participation ne donnant pas le contrôle (PNDC)	The equity in a subsidiary not attributable, directly or indirectly, to a parent (IFRS 10, IFRS 3).
Non-current asset held for sale	Actif non courant détenu en vue de la vente	An asset whose carrying amount will be recovered principally through a sale rather than through continuing use; it is measured at the lower of its carrying amount and fair value less costs to sell (IFRS 5).
Offsetting	Compensation	Presentation of an asset and a liability at their net amount, when the entity has a legally enforceable right to set off and intends to settle on a net basis (IAS 32).
Onerous contract	Contrat déficitaire	A contract in which the unavoidable costs of fulfilling it exceed the economic benefits expected to be received; it gives rise to a provision (IAS 37).
Operating category	Catégorie exploitation	The residual category of the statement of profit or loss that comprises income and expenses not classified in the other categories (IFRS 18).
Operating lease	Location simple	For the lessor, a lease other than a finance lease (IFRS 16).
Operating profit or loss	Résultat d’exploitation	The first mandatory subtotal of the statement of profit or loss (IFRS 18).
Operating segment	Secteur opérationnel	A component of an entity whose operating results are regularly reviewed by the chief operating decision maker and for which discrete financial information is available (IFRS 8).
Outside basis difference	Différence liée aux participations (différence extérieure)	The difference between the carrying amount of an investment in a subsidiary, associate or joint arrangement and its tax base (IAS 12).
Past service cost	Coût des services passés	The change in the present value of the defined benefit obligation resulting from a plan amendment or curtailment (IAS 19).
Performance obligation	Obligation de prestation	A promise to transfer to the customer a distinct good or service, or a series of distinct goods or services that are substantially the same (IFRS 15).
Pillar Two	Pilier 2	OECD rules introducing a global minimum effective tax of 15% for large groups; IAS 12 provides an exception to the recognition of the related deferred taxes (IAS 12).
Plan assets	Actifs du régime	Assets held by a long-term employee benefit fund, or qualifying insurance policies, used exclusively to pay employee benefits (IAS 19).
Presentation currency	Monnaie de présentation	The currency in which the financial statements are presented (IAS 21).
Prior period error	Erreur d’une période antérieure	An omission from, or misstatement in, the financial statements arising from a failure to use, or misuse of, reliable information that was available; it is corrected retrospectively (IAS 8).
Profit or loss before financing and income taxes	Résultat avant financement et impôts	The second mandatory subtotal of the statement of profit or loss (IFRS 18).
Property, plant and equipment	Immobilisation corporelle	A tangible item held for use in the production or supply of goods or services, for rental to others or for administrative purposes, and expected to be used during more than one period (IAS 16).
Provision	Provision	A liability of uncertain timing or amount (IAS 37).
Qualifying asset	Actif qualifié	An asset that necessarily takes a substantial period of time to get ready for its intended use or sale; its borrowing costs are included in its cost (IAS 23).
Recoverable amount	Valeur recouvrable	The higher of fair value less costs of disposal and value in use of an asset or CGU (IAS 36).
Regulatory deferral account	Compte de report réglementaire	A balance of expenses or income that would not be recognised as an asset or a liability under other IFRS Standards but that qualifies for deferral because it is included in rate regulation (IFRS 14).
Related party	Partie liée	A person or entity that is related to the entity preparing the financial statements, through control, joint control, significant influence or key management personnel functions (IAS 24).
Residual value	Valeur résiduelle	The estimated amount that an entity would currently obtain from disposal of the asset, after deducting the estimated costs of disposal, if the asset were already of the age and in the condition expected at the end of its useful life (IAS 16).
Retrospective restatement	Retraitement rétrospectif	Correcting the recognition, measurement and disclosure of amounts as if a prior period error had never occurred (IAS 8).
Revenue	Chiffre d’affaires (produits des activités ordinaires)	Income arising from the entity’s ordinary activities, recognised using the five-step model (IFRS 15).
Share-based payment	Paiement fondé sur des actions	A transaction in which the entity receives goods or services in exchange for equity instruments or for an amount based on their price (IFRS 2).
Significant financing component	Composante de financement importante	The effect of the timing of payments agreed in the contract, which provides the customer or the entity with a significant financing benefit; the transaction price is adjusted (IFRS 15).
Stand-alone selling price	Prix de vente spécifique	The price at which the entity would sell a promised good or service separately to a customer; the basis for allocating the transaction price (IFRS 15).
Structured entity	Entité structurée	An entity that has been designed so that voting rights are not the dominant factor in deciding who controls the entity (IFRS 12).
Sublease	Sous-location	A transaction for which an underlying asset is re-leased by a lessee (the intermediate lessor) to a third party (IFRS 16).
Subsidiary	Filiale	An entity that is controlled by another entity (IFRS 10).
Substantively enacted	Loi quasi adoptée	Legislation whose enactment process is, in practice, complete; it is used to measure current and deferred tax (IAS 12).
Tax base	Base fiscale	The amount attributed to an asset or liability for tax purposes; comparing it with the carrying amount gives rise to temporary differences (IAS 12).
Taxable profit	Bénéfice imposable	The profit (loss) for a period, determined in accordance with the rules established by the taxation authorities, upon which current tax is payable (IAS 12).
Temporary difference	Différence temporelle	The difference between the carrying amount of an asset or liability and its tax base, giving rise to deferred taxes (IAS 12).
Total comprehensive income	Résultat global	The change in equity during a period resulting from transactions other than those with owners; it comprises profit or loss and other comprehensive income (IAS 1, IFRS 18).
Transaction cost	Coût de transaction	An incremental cost directly attributable to the acquisition, issue or disposal of a financial asset or financial liability (IFRS 9).
Transaction price	Prix de transaction	The amount of consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for transferring promised goods or services, excluding amounts collected on behalf of third parties (IFRS 15).
Uncertain tax treatment	Traitement fiscal incertain	A tax treatment for which there is uncertainty over whether the taxation authority will accept it (IFRIC 23).
Unusual income and expenses	Produits et charges inhabituels	Income and expenses with limited type or amount that are not reasonably expected to recur in the future (IFRS 18).
Value in use	Valeur d’utilité	The present value of the future cash flows expected to be derived from the continuing use of an asset or CGU and from its disposal at the end of its useful life (IAS 36).
Vesting conditions	Conditions d’acquisition des droits	Conditions (service or performance) that determine whether the entity receives the services that entitle the counterparty to receive payment in a share-based payment (IFRS 2).

This glossary is Appendix A of the book. Open in the reader