Learning French is fun and helpful, especially when you start with everyday words. One important word to know is “man.” Whether you’re traveling, making friends, or studying French culture, knowing how to say “man” can make conversations easier.
In French, there are different ways to say “man,” depending on the situation. Some words are formal, while others are casual. This guide will show you how to say “man” in French, teach you related expressions, and help you practice through simple exercises. Let’s begin!
Ways to Say “Man” in French
In French, there are several ways to say “man,” depending on the context. Some words are formal, while others are casual or even descriptive. Here are 25 ways to say “man” in French with their meanings and example sentences.
1. Homme
Pronunciation: ohm
Meaning: Man (general term).
In a Sentence:
- C’est un homme gentil. (He is a kind man.)
- L’homme est professeur. (The man is a teacher.)
2. Monsieur
Pronunciation: muh-syuh
Meaning: Sir/Mr. (formal)
In a Sentence:
- Bonjour, Monsieur Dupont. (Hello, Mr. Dupont.)
- Excusez-moi, Monsieur. (Excuse me, sir.)
3. Garçon
Pronunciation: gar-sohn
Meaning: Boy (sometimes used for a young man).
In a Sentence:
- Le garçon joue au football. (The boy is playing soccer.)
- C’est un jeune garçon. (He is a young boy.)
4. Mec
Pronunciation: mehk
Meaning: Guy/Dude (informal)
In a Sentence:
- Ce mec est sympa. (That guy is nice.)
- Regarde ce mec là-bas! (Look at that guy over there!)
5. Type
Pronunciation: teep
Meaning: Guy/Fellow (informal)
In a Sentence:
- C’est un type drôle. (He’s a funny guy.)
- Le type est parti rapidement. (The guy left quickly.)
6. Bonhomme
Pronunciation: bohn-um
Meaning: Fellow (friendly or playful term)
In a Sentence:
- Regarde ce bonhomme! (Look at that fellow!)
- Le vieux bonhomme est toujours là. (The old man is still there.)
7. Gaillard
Pronunciation: guy-yar
Meaning: Strong man or lad (informal)
In a Sentence:
- C’est un sacré gaillard! (He’s quite a strong man!)
- Le gaillard peut soulever des poids lourds. (The man can lift heavy weights.)
8. Monsieur Tout-le-monde
Pronunciation: muh-syuh too-luh-mond
Meaning: Average Joe (ordinary man)
In a Sentence:
- C’est un monsieur tout-le-monde. (He’s an average Joe.)
- Les politiciens doivent écouter Monsieur Tout-le-monde. (Politicians need to listen to the average man.)
9. Père
Pronunciation: pair
Meaning: Father/Man (formal or religious)
In a Sentence:
- Le Père Jacques est très respecté. (Father Jacques is very respected.)
- Le père de Luc est professeur. (Luc’s father is a teacher.)
10. Mari
Pronunciation: mah-ree
Meaning: Husband
In a Sentence:
- C’est son mari. (That’s her husband.)
- Mon mari est médecin. (My husband is a doctor.)
11. Seigneur
Pronunciation: sen-yur
Meaning: Lord (formal, historical)
In a Sentence:
- Le seigneur du château est puissant. (The lord of the castle is powerful.)
- Seigneur, ayez pitié de nous. (Lord, have mercy on us.)
12. Citoyen
Pronunciation: see-twa-yen
Meaning: Citizen/Man (formal, political)
In a Sentence:
- Chaque citoyen a des droits. (Every citizen has rights.)
- Le citoyen vote aux élections. (The citizen votes in elections.)
13. Camarade
Pronunciation: kah-mah-rad
Meaning: Comrade/Companion
In a Sentence:
- C’est un bon camarade. (He’s a good comrade.)
- Mon camarade de classe est très intelligent. (My classmate is very smart.)
14. Individu
Pronunciation: ahn-dee-vee-doo
Meaning: Individual/Person
In a Sentence:
- L’individu est suspecté de vol. (The individual is suspected of theft.)
- Chaque individu est unique. (Every individual is unique.)
15. Frère
Pronunciation: frer
Meaning: Brother/Man (casual, religious)
In a Sentence:
- Mon frère est plus âgé que moi. (My brother is older than me.)
- Frère Jean est un homme pieux. (Brother John is a devout man.)
16. Patron
Pronunciation: pah-tron
Meaning: Boss/Man in charge
In a Sentence:
- Le patron est très exigeant. (The boss is very demanding.)
- Mon patron est toujours à l’heure. (My boss is always on time.)
17. Chef
Pronunciation: shef
Meaning: Leader/Boss
In a Sentence:
- Le chef de l’équipe est compétent. (The team leader is competent.)
- Le chef de projet est très organisé. (The project manager is very organized.)
18. Ancien
Pronunciation: ahn-syen
Meaning: Elder/Old man
In a Sentence:
- L’ancien du village est respecté. (The elder of the village is respected.)
- Les anciens racontent des histoires passionnantes. (The elders tell fascinating stories.)
19. Homme de main
Pronunciation: ohm duh man
Meaning: Right-hand man (trusted assistant)
In a Sentence:
- C’est son homme de main. (He’s his right-hand man.)
- L’homme de main est toujours prêt à aider. (The right-hand man is always ready to help.)
20. Homme politique
Pronunciation: ohm poh-lee-teek
Meaning: Politician
In a Sentence:
- Cet homme politique est très influent. (That politician is very influential.)
- L’homme politique parle à la foule. (The politician speaks to the crowd.)
21. Homme d’affaires
Pronunciation: ohm dah-fehr
Meaning: Businessman
In a Sentence:
- Mon père est un homme d’affaires prospère. (My father is a successful businessman.)
- L’homme d’affaires négocie un contrat important. (The businessman is negotiating an important contract.)
22. Jeune homme
Pronunciation: zhuhn ohm
Meaning: Young man
In a Sentence:
- Le jeune homme étudie à l’université. (The young man studies at the university.)
- Un jeune homme m’a aidé avec mes courses. (A young man helped me with my groceries.)
23. Homme de foi
Pronunciation: ohm duh fwah
Meaning: Man of faith (religious person)
In a Sentence:
- L’homme de foi prêche tous les dimanches. (The man of faith preaches every Sunday.)
- C’est un homme de foi et de principes. (He’s a man of faith and principles.)
24. Homme de lettres
Pronunciation: ohm duh letr
Meaning: Man of letters (scholar or writer)
In a Sentence:
- Victor Hugo était un grand homme de lettres. (Victor Hugo was a great man of letters.)
- Cet homme de lettres a écrit plusieurs livres célèbres. (This man of letters has written several famous books.)
25. Homme du monde
Pronunciation: ohm du mond
Meaning: Man of the world (experienced man)
In a Sentence:
- Il est considéré comme un homme du monde. (He is considered a man of the world.)
- Un homme du monde connaît beaucoup de cultures. (A man of the world knows many cultures.)
26. Vieux monsieur
Pronunciation: vyuh muh-syuh
Meaning: Old man (polite term)
In a Sentence:
- Le vieux monsieur promène son chien tous les matins. (The old man walks his dog every morning.)
- Aidez le vieux monsieur à traverser la rue. (Help the old man cross the street.)
27. Homme brave
Pronunciation: ohm brahv
Meaning: Brave man
In a Sentence:
- C’est un homme brave qui a sauvé la famille. (He is a brave man who saved the family.)
- L’homme brave a fait face au danger. (The brave man faced the danger.)
28. Homme de confiance
Pronunciation: ohm duh kon-fee-ahns
Meaning: Trusted man (reliable person)
In a Sentence:
- C’est un homme de confiance dans l’entreprise. (He’s a trusted man in the company.)
- L’homme de confiance gère les affaires délicates. (The trusted man handles delicate matters.)
Other Ways to Say “Man” in French
Here’s a table with additional ways to say “man” in French, including their pronunciation, meaning, and example sentences:
| Other Ways to Say | Pronunciation | Meaning | Example Sentences |
| Homme viril | ohm vee-reel | Manly/Strong man | Il est un homme viril et courageux. (He is a manly and brave man.) |
| Homme respectable | ohm res-pehk-tah-bl | Respectable man | C’est un homme respectable dans sa communauté. (He is a respectable man in his community.) |
| Homme simple | ohm san-pluh | Simple man | C’est un homme simple et honnête. (He is a simple and honest man.) |
| Homme sage | ohm sahj | Wise man | L’homme sage a donné un bon conseil. (The wise man gave good advice.) |
| Homme travailleur | ohm tra-vai-yeur | Hardworking man | Mon père est un homme travailleur. (My father is a hardworking man.) |
| Homme courageux | ohm koo-rah-zhuh | Courageous man | L’homme courageux a sauvé l’enfant. (The courageous man saved the child.) |
| Homme charmant | ohm shar-mahn | Charming man | C’est un homme charmant et poli. (He’s a charming and polite man.) |
| Homme humble | ohm um-bluh | Humble man | Il est riche mais reste un homme humble. (He is rich but remains a humble man.) |
Responses to “Man” in French
When talking about “man” in French, you might want to respond with respectful, polite, or familiar expressions depending on the situation. Here are common responses:
1. Oui, monsieur
Pronunciation: wee muh-syuh
Meaning: Yes, sir (formal)
In a Sentence:
- Serveur: Désirez-vous autre chose? (Waiter: Would you like anything else?)
- Client: Oui, monsieur. (Yes, sir.)
2. C’est lui
Pronunciation: say lwee
Meaning: It’s him
In a Sentence:
- Qui est responsable ici? (Who is in charge here?)
- C’est lui. (It’s him.)
3. Présent!
Pronunciation: pray-zahn
Meaning: Present! (used during roll call)
In a Sentence:
- Professeur: Pierre Dupont? (Teacher: Pierre Dupont?)
- Pierre: Présent! (Present!)
4. Mon père
Pronunciation: mon pair
Meaning: My father
In a Sentence:
- Qui vous accompagne? (Who is accompanying you?)
- Mon père. (My father.)
5. C’est mon mari
Pronunciation: say mon mah-ree
Meaning: It’s my husband
In a Sentence:
- Qui est cet homme à côté de toi? (Who is that man next to you?)
- C’est mon mari. (It’s my husband.)
6. C’est un ami
Pronunciation: say uh-nah-mee
Meaning: He’s a friend
In a Sentence:
- Connaissez-vous cet homme? (Do you know that man?)
- Oui, c’est un ami. (Yes, he’s a friend.)
7. Un inconnu
Pronunciation: uh-nahn-ko-nyu
Meaning: A stranger
In a Sentence:
- Qui est cet homme? (Who is that man?)
- Je ne sais pas, c’est un inconnu. (I don’t know; he’s a stranger.)
8. C’est le chef
Pronunciation: say luh shef
Meaning: He’s the boss/leader
In a Sentence:
- Qui dirige le projet? (Who is leading the project?)
- C’est le chef. (He’s the boss.)
9. C’est mon frère
Pronunciation: say mon frer
Meaning: He’s my brother
In a Sentence:
- Qui est cet homme avec toi? (Who is that man with you?)
- C’est mon frère. (He’s my brother.)
10. C’est un voisin
Pronunciation: say uh-n vwah-zan
Meaning: He’s a neighbor
In a Sentence:
- Connais-tu cet homme? (Do you know that man?)
- Oui, c’est un voisin. (Yes, he’s a neighbor.)
11. Un homme important
Pronunciation: uh-n ohm am-por-tahn
Meaning: An important man
In a Sentence:
- Qui est cet homme à la réunion? (Who is that man at the meeting?)
- C’est un homme important. (He’s an important man.)
12. C’est le mari de Marie
Pronunciation: say luh mah-ree duh mah-ree
Meaning: He’s Marie’s husband
In a Sentence:
- Qui est cet homme à côté de Marie? (Who is that man next to Marie?)
- C’est le mari de Marie. (He’s Marie’s husband.)
13. C’est un collègue
Pronunciation: say uh-n koh-lehg
Meaning: He’s a colleague
In a Sentence:
- Connais-tu cet homme au bureau? (Do you know that man at the office?)
- Oui, c’est un collègue. (Yes, he’s a colleague.)
Exercise to Practice “Man” in French
Complete the sentences below using the correct French word for “man” from the list: homme, monsieur, mari, frère, collègue, voisin, patron, inconnu, chef, père, ami, garçon.
Fill-in-the-Blanks
- Le _______ est très gentil avec ses enfants.
- C’est mon _______; il travaille dans mon bureau.
- Pierre est le _______ de Sophie depuis cinq ans.
- Mon _______ a toujours de bons conseils pour moi.
- Excusez-moi, _______! Pouvez-vous m’aider?
- Mon _______ est venu réparer la clôture hier.
- Le _______ de l’hôtel nous a souhaité la bienvenue.
- Paul est un _______ que j’ai rencontré au travail.
- Cet _______ m’a aidé à trouver le chemin de la gare.
- Mon _______ dirige toute l’entreprise avec succès.
- Le _______ de la boutique m’a vendu un joli cadeau.
- Un _______ nous a apporté notre commande au restaurant.
Answers and Meanings
- Le père est très gentil avec ses enfants. (The father is very kind to his children.)
- C’est mon collègue; il travaille dans mon bureau. (He’s my colleague; he works in my office.)
- Pierre est le mari de Sophie depuis cinq ans. (Pierre has been Sophie’s husband for five years.)
- Mon frère a toujours de bons conseils pour moi. (My brother always gives me good advice.)
- Excusez-moi, monsieur! Pouvez-vous m’aider? (Excuse me, sir! Can you help me?)
- Mon voisin est venu réparer la clôture hier. (My neighbor came to fix the fence yesterday.)
- Le chef de l’hôtel nous a souhaité la bienvenue. (The hotel manager welcomed us.)
- Paul est un ami que j’ai rencontré au travail. (Paul is a friend I met at work.)
- Cet inconnu m’a aidé à trouver le chemin de la gare. (This stranger helped me find the train station.)
- Mon patron dirige toute l’entreprise avec succès. (My boss runs the entire company successfully.)
- Le garçon de la boutique m’a vendu un joli cadeau. (The shop boy sold me a nice gift.)
- Un homme nous a apporté notre commande au restaurant. (A man brought us our order at the restaurant.)
Conclusion
Learning how to say “man” in French opens the door to better conversations in everyday life. Whether you are addressing someone formally or talking about a friend or family member, the right word makes your communication clearer and more polite.
By practicing these terms and responses, you’ll gain confidence when speaking French. Remember to adjust your word choice based on the situation—formal or informal. Keep practicing, and soon using these French words will feel natural and easy!