Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| extraterrestre | /ɛk.stʁa.tɛ.ʁɛstʁ/ /ɛk.stʁa.te.ʁɛstʁ/ |
masculine |
| alien | /a.ljɛn/ | masculine |
Both extraterrestre and alien refer to a life form of non-Earth origin.
Which one should you use?
extraterrestre is the standard term used in science, media and everyday conversation. In contrast, alien is a loanword from English typically used in informal contexts, pop culture or discussions about science fiction.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
extraterrestre is the formal and most common way to say alien. alien is an informal option used in casual settings or when discussing sci-fi.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
extraterrestre is invariable in gender, so it remains the same for both masculine and feminine nouns. For example, un extraterrestre means a male alien and une extraterrestre means a female alien. To make the word plural, add an 's' to the end to form extraterrestres.
How do you pronounce it?
/ɛk.stʁa.tɛ.ʁɛstʁ/ (4 syllables)
Did you know?
- The word alien is actually a returning loanword. It was borrowed from English, but the English word 'alien' originally came from the Old French alien.
- While extraterrestre is the standard term, French sci-fi fans often use the English word alien specifically to refer to the creature from the 1979 movie 'Alien'.
- The French word alien is almost exclusively used for science fiction, whereas in English, 'alien' is a common legal and administrative term for a non-citizen.
Examples in context
- J'ai vu un extraterrestre.I saw an alien.This sentence shows how to use the word extraterrestre to say you saw an alien.Tatoeba #12178461 by lbdx, translation #10239366 by ddnktr
- Je te jure, j'ai vu un alien !I swear, I saw an alien!This sentence shows an informal use of the word alien.Tatoeba #12667092 by Olcyx, translation #3348220 by _undertoad
- L'armée a abattu le vaisseau extraterrestre.The army shot down the alien ship.This sentence demonstrates how extraterrestre is used as an adjective to describe a ship.Tatoeba #11896324 by calypsow, translation #11693434 by Amastan
- Le gouvernement a annoncé qu'ils enquêteraient sur toute prétendue activité extraterrestre dans la région.The government announced they would investigate any alleged extraterrestrial activity in the region.
- Moi, j'adore les films de science-fiction avec des E.T. !I love science fiction movies with aliens!
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are watching a science fiction movie on a couch.
- ManonCet extraterrestre dans le film est terrifiant.This alien in the movie is terrifying.
- NathanOui, il est vraiment effrayant.Yes, he is really scary.
- ManonTu crois qu'un extraterrestre existe vraiment ?Do you think an alien really exists?
- NathanC'est possible, peut-être.It is possible, maybe.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “alien” translations and entries extraterrestre, alien, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries alien, extraterrestre, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
