Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| humain | /y.mɛ̃/ | masculine |
| homme | /ɔm/ | masculine |
| être humain | /ɛ.tʁ‿y.mɛ̃/ | masculine |
When you want to refer to a human being as a noun, you have several options depending on the context. The term humain is most commonly used as an adjective to describe things related to humans, such as la nature humaine (human nature). To refer specifically to a human being as a biological entity, être humain is the most precise and common choice. In formal, technical or academic contexts, you might encounter the word individu to refer to a human being or an individual.
Which one should you use?
While the word homme can mean a human being in a biological or philosophical sense, be aware that its primary and most common meaning is 'man' (an adult male).
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the word as an adjective, it must agree with the gender of the noun it describes. While the masculine form is humain, it changes to humaine when describing a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables and is pronounced /y.mɛ̃/.
Did you know?
Examples in context
- Es-tu un humain ?Are you human?This is useful for asking if someone is a human.Tatoeba #6192201 by Rovo, translation #7074120 by verymuchso
- Sami est un humain.Sami is a human.This is useful for stating that someone is a human.Tatoeba #8352761 by zarisi, translation #7338158 by OsoHombre
- C'est la nature humaine.It's human nature.This is useful for describing human nature using the adjective humain.Tatoeba #1883768 by sacredceltic, translation #1883081 by Spamster
- chaque personne est uniqueEvery human being is unique
- Les droits humains sont essentielsHuman rights are essential
- Chaque être humain mérite le respectEvery human being deserves respect
- 339 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nathan and Manon are discussing a science fiction movie.
- NathanEst-ce que l'extraterrestre est un humain ?Is the alien a human being?
- ManonNon, c'est un robot très intelligent.No, it is a very intelligent robot.
- NathanIl ressemble pourtant à un humain.Yet, he looks like a human being.
- ManonC'est pour cela que l'histoire est étrange.That is why the story is strange.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “human” translations and entries humain, homme, être humain, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries homme, humain, être, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
