France does not stop at its European borders. From the Caribbean to the Indian Ocean and the Pacific, several islands and territories are part of the French Republic. People still commonly call them the DOM-TOM, even though the official name changed in 2003. Here is who they are, how they differ and the vocabulary to talk about them.
Key points
- DOM-TOM meant overseas departments and territories. Since 2003 the official terms are DROM and COM.
- The five DROM: Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana, Réunion and Mayotte.
- The COM: Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, Saint-Barthélemy, Saint-Martin, Wallis and Futuna and French Polynesia. New Caledonia has a special status.
- The DROM use the euro; the Pacific territories use the CFP franc.
DOM-TOM, DROM, COM: what is the difference?
The 2003 constitutional reform replaced the DOM and TOM with two categories:
- The DROM (overseas departments and regions): French law applies as in mainland France, with some adaptations. They are part of the European Union.
- The COM (overseas collectivities): they have more autonomy and their own rules in some areas.
- New Caledonia has a unique status set out in the Constitution.
In everyday conversation many French people still say les DOM-TOM or simply l’outre-mer.
The DROM at a glance
- Guadeloupe, the butterfly island of the Caribbean, shaped like wings with Grande-Terre and Basse-Terre.
- Martinique, the island of flowers, dominated by Mount Pelée.
- French Guiana, in South America, covered by Amazon rainforest and home to the Kourou space centre.
- Réunion, in the Indian Ocean, with the Piton de la Fournaise volcano. Its peaks, cirques and ramparts are a UNESCO World Heritage site.
- Mayotte, which became France’s 101st department in 2011.
Languages and cultures
French is the official language everywhere, but many regional languages are spoken too: Creoles in the Caribbean, French Guiana and Réunion, Tahitian in Polynesia, Kanak languages in New Caledonia, Shimaore in Mayotte. These territories have also given French culture music styles such as zouk and maloya.
Good to know: in the DROM, people say la métropole or l’Hexagone to refer to European France.
Useful French vocabulary
- l’outre-mer (overseas France), ultramarin(e): from overseas France
- la métropole, métropolitain(e), l’Hexagone (mainland France)
- les Antilles (the French Caribbean), un(e) Antillais(e)
- un créole, une langue créole (a Creole language)
Going further
Discover the symbols of France and public holidays in France, some of which are specific to overseas territories, such as the commemoration of the abolition of slavery. Take our free French level test and practise in our French conversation lessons.
Frequently asked questions
What does DOM-TOM mean?
Départements d’outre-mer and territoires d’outre-mer: overseas departments and territories. Since 2003 the official terms are DROM and COM.
Which are the French overseas departments?
Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana, Réunion and Mayotte.
What currency is used in the DOM-TOM?
The euro in the DROM, Saint-Martin, Saint-Barthélemy and Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon. The CFP franc in New Caledonia, French Polynesia and Wallis and Futuna.
Are the DOM-TOM part of the European Union?
The DROM and Saint-Martin are part of the EU. The other overseas collectivities and New Caledonia are associated with it without being members.
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