The term French West Indies (Antilles françaises) refers to the four territories presently under French sovereignty in the Caribbean: the two overseas departments of Guadeloupe and Martinique, plus the two overseas collectivities of Saint Martin and Saint-Barthélemy. The Guadeloupe department includes the islands of Basse-Terre, Grande-Terre, Terre-de-Haut, Terre-de-Bas, Marie-Galante and La Désirade.

Les Saintes, Guadeloupe

In addition, some of the islands of the present and former British West Indies were once ruled by France. On some of them, a French-based creole language is spoken.

Former French West Indian islands:

• Hispaniola (the former French colony, Saint-Domingue, was on the western third of the island -- now the country of Haiti)
• Dominica
• Grenada
• The Grenadines
• Saint Croix
• Saint Kitts
• Saint Lucia
• Saint Vincent
• Tobago

[edit] See also

• British West Indies
• French Caribbean