Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| conducteur | /kɔ̃.dyk.tœʁ/ | masculine |
| chauffeur | /ʃo.fœʁ/ | masculine |
In French, the word used for a driver depends on the type of person and the vehicle they operate. conducteur is a general term for any person driving a motorized vehicle, such as a car or a bus. It is also used technically for specific vehicles, such as a conducteur de train for a train driver. Other formal terms include automobiliste for someone specifically driving a car and pilote for high-skill drivers like those in car racing.
Which one should you use?
While conducteur is a general term for any driver, chauffeur is more specific and refers to a professional driver who operates a vehicle for someone else, such as a private car driver or a taxi driver.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Quebec, Canada, the word chauffeuse may be used to specify a female driver.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine form conducteur has the feminine form conductrice to refer to a female driver. Similarly, the masculine form chauffeur has the feminine form chauffeuse.
How do you pronounce it?
3 syllables: /kɔ̃.dyk.tœʁ/
Did you know?
- The word chauffeur describes a professional driver because early steam-powered cars required a person to physically heat the boiler to make the vehicle move.
- In France, a train driver is called a conducteur de train, but the person who checks tickets and manages the passengers is the contrôleur.
- The word conducteur is built from the Latin root dūcō, which is the same root found in the English word 'duke', meaning 'leader'.
Examples in context
- Où est mon chauffeur ?Where's my driver?This sentence is useful for asking about the location of a professional driver using chauffeur.Tatoeba #5311807 by Aiji, translation #2648221 by CK
- C'est un bon conducteur.He's a good driver.This sentence is useful for describing a person as a good driver using conducteur.Tatoeba #1543818 by martin9, translation #3658408 by AlanF_US
- Il est conducteur de bus.He is a bus driver.This sentence is useful for stating a profession such as a bus driver using conducteur.Tatoeba #1037752 by sacredceltic, translation #292404 by CK
- un bon conducteurA good driver
- Hier, j'ai pris un taxi et le chauffeur était très sympathique.Yesterday, I took a taxi, and the driver was very friendly.
- Je suis un mauvais conducteur la nuit.I am a bad driver at night.
- Mon ami est un pilote de course expérimenté.My friend is an experienced race car driver.
- 121 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Léa and Gabriel are waiting for their ride.
- LéaGabriel, où est le conducteur ?Gabriel, where is the driver?
- GabrielIl est juste là, Léa.He is right there, Léa.
- LéaEst-ce que c'est un bon conducteur ?Is he a good driver?
- GabrielOui, il semble très professionnel.Yes, he seems very professional.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “driver” translations and entries conducteur, chauffeur, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries chauffeur, conducteur, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
