compatriote
/kɔ̃.pa.tʁi.jɔt/feminine, masculine
The French word for countryman is compatriote.
compatriote refers to somebody from one's own country.
Meaning: somebody from one's own country (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is a compound of com- (with/together) and patriote (patriot).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
compatriote is a formal or neutral term used in official, journalistic or literary contexts. In contrast, the colloquial expression gars du pays can be used to mean a guy from the country.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form compatriote is used for both masculine and feminine subjects. To form the plural, add an 's' to the end: compatriotes.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 4 syllables and is pronounced /kɔ̃.pa.tʁi.jɔt/.
Did you know?
- French has no single common word that perfectly mirrors the English 'countryman' when it refers to a farmer or a person from the rural countryside.
- The word compatriote is a 'calque', meaning it was a direct translation of a Greek concept into Latin and then into French, rather than evolving naturally from a native Romance root.
- In French, calling someone your compatriote can sound slightly dramatic or overly formal, as if you are speaking in a historical novel or a political speech.
Examples in context
- Monsieur Dupont est mon concitoyen.Mr. Dupont is my fellow countryman.
- Les compatriotes sont fiers de leur pays.Countrymen are proud of their country.
- Ce gars du pays sait comment survivre en pleine nature.This country guy knows how to survive in the wilderness.
- Je suis content de voir une compatriote ici.I am happy to see a compatriot here.
- Ses compatriotes vivent en France.His compatriots live in France.
Example conversation
Manon and Hugo are talking while traveling abroad.
- ManonRegarde, je pense que cet homme est un compatriote.Look, I think that man is a countryman.
- HugoAh oui, il parle avec notre accent !Oh yes, he is speaking with our accent!
- ManonJe vais aller lui dire bonjour, Hugo.I am going to go say hello to him, Hugo.
- HugoC'est une bonne idée, vas-y.That is a good idea, go ahead.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “countryman” translations and entries compatriote, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries compatriote, CC BY-SA 4.0.
