manoir
/ma.nwaʁ/masculine
The English phrase 'mansion' can be translated into French as manoir or grande demeure.
Meaning: large house or building (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| manoir | /ma.nwaʁ/ | masculine |
| grande demeure | feminine |
In French, words for a mansion vary depending on the specific type of building and the atmosphere you wish to convey.
Which one should you use?
The term manoir often carries a connotation of a historical manor or a large country estate. In contrast, grande demeure is a more descriptive and elegant way to refer to a large, impressive residence without necessarily implying it is a historical manor.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In France, the term Hôtel particulier is used to refer to a mansion that is typically located in a city.
How does it change in a sentence?
Manoir is a masculine noun, so you must use masculine articles such as un or le. The phrase grande demeure is feminine, meaning you must use feminine articles like une or la.
How do you pronounce it?
/ma.nwaʁ/
Did you know?
- In French legal and historical contexts, a manoir was often the residence of a lower-ranking noble or a land agent, making it smaller and less prestigious than a château.
- The word manoir shares its DNA with the English word 'remain', both tracing back to the Latin 'manēre' which means 'to stay'.
- While an English speaker might think of a 'hotel' as a place to sleep, in French, an Hôtel particulier describes a grand, private city mansion rather than a commercial lodging.
Examples in context
- Yanni a un manoir.Yanni has a mansion.This sentence is useful for showing possession of a manoir.Tatoeba #11628842 by Amastan, translation #9714532 by Amastan
- John est sorti du manoir.John left the mansion.This sentence is useful for showing an action involving leaving a manoir.Tatoeba #11531371 by Amastan, translation #11513930 by Amastan
- Yanni vit dans un manoir.Yanni lives in a mansion.This sentence is useful for describing living in a manoir.Tatoeba #11628846 by Amastan, translation #9722089 by Amastan
- Le domaine possède un magnifique château du XVIIe siècle.The estate has a magnificent 17th-century mansion.
- Elle habite dans une superbe demeure à la périphérie de la ville.She lives in a splendid mansion on the outskirts of the city.
- Le couple a acheté une magnifique villa près de la côte.The couple bought a magnificent mansion near the coast.
- L'hôtel particulier du XVIIIe siècle est un témoin de l'histoire de la ville.The 18th-century mansion is a testament to the city's history.
- 14 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Léa and Hugo are talking about a trip to the countryside.
- LéaRegarde ce vieux manoir !Look at that old mansion!
- HugoC'est magnifique et très grand.It is magnificent and very large.
- LéaQui habite dans ce manoir ?Who lives in this mansion?
- HugoJe pense que c'est un musée.I think it is a museum.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mansion” translations and entries manoir, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries demeure, manoir, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
