mixte
/mikst/
The English word "mixed" is translated into French as mixte.
Meaning: Stemming from two or more races or breeds (adj)
Which one should you use?
While mixte can describe a mixture of things (like an economy or a salad), the term métis is specifically used to describe a person of mixed racial or ethnic heritage.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective mixte is epicene, meaning it has the same form for both masculine and feminine nouns. The plural form of the adjective is mixtes.
How do you pronounce it?
/mikst/
Did you know?
- While mixte is a general adjective, the term Métis has evolved into a proper noun to describe a specific ethnic group in Canada descending from French fur traders and Indigenous peoples.
- The word mixte is often used in French education to describe schools that admit both boys and girls, whereas English usually uses 'coed' or 'mixed-sex'.
- The word mixte shares a common ancestor with the English word 'mixture', both descending from the Latin 'mixtus'.
Examples in context
- L'Algérie a besoin d'une économie mixte.Algeria needs a mixed economy.This sentence shows the use of mixte in the context of an economy.Tatoeba #10925530 by Amastan, translation #10126115 by Amastan
- Je voudrais un steak et une salade mixte.I would like a steak and a mixed salad.This sentence shows the use of mixte in the context of a salad.Tatoeba #6681271 by felix63, translation #6684847 by Eccles17
- Bien que les vestiaires étaient séparés par sexe, une fois que l'on entrait dans le bain l'espace était mixte, sans aucune séparation entre hommes et femmes.Although the locker rooms were segregated by sex, upon entering the bath, women and men were not separated, it was a mixed bath.This sentence shows the use of mixte to describe a shared space for men and women.Tatoeba #7924866 by jmdesp, translation #2811784 by xylian
- Jacques est issu d'un mariage métissé entre une mère française et un père ivoirien.Jacques comes from a mixed marriage between a French mother and an Ivorian father.
- Les couleurs entremêlées dans cette peinture créent une harmonie unique.The mixed colors in this painting create a unique harmony.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chloé and Lucas are discussing their family backgrounds.
- ChloéTu as des origines diverses, n'est-ce pas ?You have diverse origins, don't you?
- LucasOui, je suis de race mixte.Yes, I am of mixed race.
- ChloéC'est super, Lucas. D'où viennent tes parents ?That's great, Lucas. Where are your parents from?
- LucasMon père est français et ma mère est japonaise.My father is French and my mother is Japanese.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry mixte, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mixte, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
