Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| responsable | /ʁɛs.pɔ̃.sabl/ | feminine, masculine |
| directeur | /di.ʁɛk.tœʁ/ | masculine |
| gérant | /ʒe.ʁɑ̃/ | masculine, usually |
| manager | /ma.na.dʒɛʁ/ /ma.na.dʒœʁ/ |
masculine |
| chef | /ʃɛf/ | masculine |
In French, there are many ways to say manager depending on the context. You might use gérant for a business or company, or directeur for someone in a higher corporate position. For a general term meaning the person in charge of a task or department, use responsable. In a corporate environment, someone might even refer to their immediate superior using the slang term N+1.
Which one should you use?
The choice of word depends on the specific level of authority and the type of business. Gérant is specifically used for someone who manages a small business, a shop or a legal entity. In contrast, directeur implies a higher level of authority within a corporate hierarchy and is often translated as 'Director'. While many terms exist, responsable is the most versatile, as it literally means 'the person responsible' for something. For the owner or manager of a company, you can also use chef d'entreprise.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The term directeur is a formal way to refer to a manager in a high position. Gérant is also used in formal business contexts to denote a manager of a company. For a more casual or anglicized feel, the English loanword manager is used colloquially in business settings. In very informal settings, one might even use the English word boss.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Canadian French-speaking regions, you may hear gestionnaire used instead of gérant or directeur. In certain parts of Africa, the term administrateur is sometimes used to mean manager.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word responsable is epicene, meaning it remains the same whether you are referring to a masculine or feminine subject. Other terms change based on gender: the feminine form of gérant is gérante, and the feminine form of directeur is directrice.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of responsable is /ʁɛs.pɔ̃.sabl/ and it has three syllables.
Did you know?
- The word chef is a linguistic relative of the English word 'chief' and the French word cap for 'hat'. Both come from the Latin word for 'head'.
- In French corporate culture, people often use the mathematical term N+1 to refer to their direct manager. The 'N' represents the employee and the '+1' represents the level immediately above them.
- In some African countries, the term administrateur is used to mean manager. This reflects a historical preference for terms associated with civil administration over commercial management.
Examples in context
- Je suis le gérant.I'm the manager.This sentence is useful for stating your role as the gérant.Tatoeba #7853390 by Aiji, translation #5856414 by CK
- Je cherche le gérant.I'm looking for the manager.This sentence is useful for expressing the need to find the gérant.Tatoeba #5419994 by Aiji, translation #3619523 by CK
- C'est elle, la gérante.She's the manager.This sentence is useful for identifying a female gérant.Tatoeba #2269906 by sacredceltic, translation #2230321 by Hybrid
- Le gérant de la société est très compétent.The manager of the company is very competent.
- Le directeur du département est en réunion.The department manager is in a meeting.
- Le chef d'entreprise est un visionnaire.The business manager is a visionary.
- J'ai rendez-vous avec mon boss demain matin.I have a meeting with my boss tomorrow morning.
- Je vais demander une augmentation à mon patron.I'm going to ask my boss for a raise.
- Mon N+1 m'a félicité pour mon travail.My N+1 praised me for my work.
- 93 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Emma is asking for the person in charge at a store.
- EmmaBonjour, je voudrais parler au responsable.Hello, I would like to speak to the manager.
- GabrielLe responsable est en réunion pour le moment.The manager is in a meeting at the moment.
- EmmaEst-ce qu'il y a une responsable adjointe ?Is there an assistant manager?
- GabrielOui, je vais l'appeler pour vous, Emma.Yes, I will call her for you, Emma.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “manager” translations and entries responsable, directeur, gérant, manager, chef, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries chef, directeur, gérant, manager, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
