acteur
/ak.tœʁ/masculine
The French word for actor is acteur. Wiktionary also lists actrice.
Meaning: dramatic performer (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| acteur | /ak.tœʁ/ | masculine |
| actrice | /ak.tʁis/ | feminine |
Both acteur and actrice refer to a dramatic performer. In colloquial speech, you might also hear the word artiste, which translates to artist but can also refer to actors.
Which one should you use?
Use acteur for a male performer and actrice for a female performer.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Québec, the word acteur is commonly used to refer to both male and female actors.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine plural form of acteur is acteurs and the feminine plural form of actrice is actrices.
How do you pronounce it?
/ak.tœʁ/
Did you know?
- In French theater culture, the 'actor's' space on stage is often referred to as le plateau, which literally translates to 'the tray'.
- In France, the term comédien is often preferred over acteur because it implies a classical training in theater and a devotion to the craft rather than just fame.
- The term doublage refers to the specific profession of the 'voice actor', as France traditionally redubs almost all foreign films into French.
Examples in context
- Tom est-il acteur ?Is Tom an actor?This sentence is useful for asking if someone is an acteur.Tatoeba #5791993 by Aiji, translation #2649011 by CK
- Je veux être acteur.I want to be an actor.This sentence is useful for expressing a desire to be an acteur.Tatoeba #2102197 by sacredceltic, translation #2090871 by CK
- Tu es un bon acteur.You're a good actor.This sentence is useful for describing someone as a good acteur.Tatoeba #6574313 by GB3, translation #2547980 by CK
- 71 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Léa and Hugo are talking about a theater production.
- LéaQuel acteur joue le rôle principal ?Which actor plays the lead role?
- HugoC'est un acteur très talentueux.It is a very talented actor.
- LéaEst-ce qu'il est aussi acteur de cinéma ?Is he also a film actor?
- HugoOui, il est acteur pour de grands studios.Yes, he is an actor for large studios.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “actor” translations and entries acteur, actrice, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
