Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| maîtresse | /mɛ.tʁɛs/ /me.tʁɛs/ |
feminine |
| amante | /a.mɑ̃t/ | feminine |
In French, maîtresse is the common term for a woman in an extramarital relationship. However, it is also the standard word for a female teacher in a primary school context. To avoid ambiguity and specify that you are referring to a teacher, you can use the phrase maîtresse d'école.
Which one should you use?
While maîtresse is the common term for a romantic mistress, amante is used to mean 'lover (female)'. The term amante focuses more strictly on the sexual or romantic aspect and is often used in a more literary or formal way.
How do you pronounce it?
/mɛ.tʁɛs/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Because maîtresse can mean both a romantic partner and a teacher, English speakers should be careful when using it in a school setting. Ensure the context of école is clear to avoid misinterpretation.
Did you know?
- In historical French contexts, a maîtresse could hold significant political power, such as the 'official mistresses' of kings who influenced state affairs.
- The word maîtresse comes from the same root as the English word 'master', but in French, the feminine form underwent a unique transformation via the suffix -esse.
- In certain classical French texts, maîtresse can refer to a woman who has mastered a particular art or craft, emphasizing skill over social status.
Examples in context
- La mer est une rude maîtresse.The sea is a harsh mistress.This sentence illustrates the metaphorical use of maîtresse regarding the sea.Tatoeba #1437232 by sacredceltic, translation #1386551 by Miktsoanit
- J’ai une maîtresse et une maîtresse.I have a teacher and a mistress.This sentence demonstrates the linguistic ambiguity between a teacher and a romantic partner when using maîtresse.Tatoeba #10689853 by AutoBot, translation #10689855 by AutoBot
- Yanni était dans un hôtel avec sa maîtresse.Yanni was in a hotel with his mistress.This sentence shows the use of maîtresse to describe a person's romantic partner.Tatoeba #11756734 by Amastan, translation #9773851 by Amastan
- Mon père a une maîtresse depuis plusieurs années. Elle s'appelle Sophie.My father has had a mistress for several years. Her name is Sophie.
- La femme politique était connue pour sa relation avec un homme marié. Elle était sa brillante amante.The female politician was known for her relationship with a married man. She was his brilliant mistress.
- Sandra est sa maîtresse depuis quelques mois maintenant.Sandra has been his mistress for a few months now.
- Vincent a une petite amie, mais il a également une amante secrète.Vincent has a girlfriend, but he also has a secret mistress.
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are gossiping in a cafe.
- ManonEst-ce que Pierre a une maîtresse ?Does Pierre have a mistress?
- GabrielOui, il la voit souvent en secret.Yes, he sees her often in secret.
- ManonSa maîtresse est une femme très élégante.His mistress is a very elegant woman.
- GabrielC'est une situation très compliquée pour lui.It is a very complicated situation for him.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mistress” translations and entries maîtresse, amante, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries maîtresse, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
