Should we say "Queens" or "Queens"?

The neighborhood of Queens in New York is often the subject of debate among New York fans. Can we call it “Queens” or not?

–

—

Union Street in the borough of Queens. (Photo Didier Forray)

–

New Yorkers say “Queens”

With Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx and Staten Island, Queens is one of the 5 boroughs of New York, in other words one of the great boroughs. However, many French people say “Queens” when they speak of this district instead of simply saying “Queens”. Is it a mistake ?
Quite frankly, the debate has been raging on the New York forum for years and I will try to settle it once and for all! ???? If we refer to strict English, we must actually say “Queens” by yourself, in the same way as we say “Manhattan” or Brooklyn “. If we say “Queens”, we should indeed say “Manhattan” or “Brooklyn”. Let’s follow logic to the end!
The only borough which is entitled to its article “the” is “the Bronx”, which is referred to as “The Bronx” in New York.

Now, we must recognize that the term “the Queens” has taken quite a step ahead in French, carried by the cinema in particular and the action scenes which take place in “the Queens” or the tennis tournament “of the Queens ”. It is also due to the fact that “Queens” is in fact the contraction of the expression “the district of Queens”.
In addition, the fact of francizing the name of the district is nothing unusual. The French go to London, when the city is actually called London. Another even more striking example: the French speak well of “California” while the Americans simply speak of “California” and not “The California”. ????
So which version should you choose? It’s up to you to decide which version you like in French! On the other hand, if you speak to an American when in New York, say “Queens” only because that is the usage in English. Enjoy your visit to Queens or Queens! ????