le professeur
The English phrase "the professor" is translated into French as le professeur.
le professeur is the generic term for a professor in French and is suitable for both male and female educators. It is often abbreviated as prof.
How does it change in a sentence?
The feminine form of the noun is la professeure and the plural form is les professeurs.
Did you know?
- The word professeur comes from the Latin word for 'one who declares publicly' or 'an expert', rather than the Latin word for 'to teach'.
- Historically, le professeur was exclusively masculine, and the feminine form la professeure only gained official acceptance by the French Academy in 2019.
- In a classroom setting, students rarely call their teacher le professeur to their face. Instead, they often use the much more common and slightly more casual Monsieur or Madame.
Examples in context
- Le professeur explique la leçon.The teacher is explaining the lesson.
- J'ai parlé avec le professeur.I spoke with the teacher.
- Le professeur est très gentil.The teacher is very kind.
Example conversation
Emma and Nathan are talking about their school day.
- EmmaEst-ce que tu as vu le professeur ?Did you see the teacher?
- NathanOui, le professeur est dans la salle.Yes, the teacher is in the room.
- EmmaIl est prêt pour le cours ?Is he ready for the class?
- NathanOui, il attend les élèves.Yes, he is waiting for the students.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries le, professeur, CC BY-SA 4.0.
