hélicoptère
/e.li.kɔp.tɛʁ/masculine
The French word for helicopter is hélicoptère.
hélicoptère is a masculine noun used to refer to the aircraft. When you want to express that you are traveling by helicopter, use the phrase en hélicoptère.
Meaning: aircraft (noun)
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When describing a mode of transport, the preposition en is used before hélicoptère.
How do you pronounce it?
/e.li.kɔp.tɛʁ/ (4 syllables)
Did you know?
- The word hélicoptère was coined in 1861 by the French physicist Gustave de Ponton d'Amécourt, long before the first functional aircraft of this type ever flew.
- In casual spoken French, people often shorten the word to hélico to refer to a helicopter.
- The French language uses the same root ptère in hélicoptère as it does in ptérodactyle for the prehistoric flying reptile.
Examples in context
- C'est votre hélicoptère ?Is it your helicopter?This sentence is useful for asking ownership of an hélicoptère.Tatoeba #1117826 by nimfeo, translation #2318165 by Gulliver
- L'hélicoptère vole très bas.The helicopter is flying very low.This sentence is useful for describing the flight altitude of an hélicoptère.Tatoeba #7865392 by Salutlolo, translation #33893 by CK
- Nous volerons en hélicoptère.We will fly in a helicopter.This sentence is useful for stating that one will travel via hélicoptère.Tatoeba #8537603 by Aiji, translation #7765529 by AlanF_US
- L'hélicoptère a été utilisé pour évacuer les blessés lors de l'urgence.The helicopter was used to evacuate the wounded during the emergency.
- 32 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Manon and Lucas are watching a rescue mission from the ground.
- ManonRegarde, voilà l'hélicoptère !Look, there is the helicopter!
- LucasIl arrive très vite.It is arriving very quickly.
- ManonL'hélicoptère est vraiment bruyant.The helicopter is really noisy.
- LucasOui, c'est normal.Yes, that is normal.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “helicopter” translations and entries hélicoptère, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hélicoptère, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
