officier
/ɔ.fi.sje/
The English phrase 'officer' is translated into French as officier.
officier is a noun used as a respectful term of address for an officer, especially a police officer.
Meaning: a respectful term of address for an officer, especially a police officer (noun)
Which one should you use?
While officier is a general term, you may encounter specific ranks or terms: commandant refers to a specific officer rank between a captain and a lieutenant colonel. In slang, people may use flic or keuf to refer to a police officer.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In France, a military policeman is referred to as a gendarme. In Quebec, Canada, the term agent de police is commonly used to refer to a police officer.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of officier is officiers.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has three syllables and is pronounced /ɔ.fi.sje/.
Did you know?
- The slang term keuf is an example of verlan, a type of French slang that reverses syllables. It is the word flic reversed and modified.
- In French, officier can refer to a religious role, such as an officier de culte, which describes someone who leads a religious service.
- While officier is the general term, you will rarely hear a French person address a police officer as Monsieur l'officier. Instead, the standard polite address is Monsieur or Madame.
Examples in context
- Il est officier de l'armée.He is an army officer.This sentence uses officier to describe an army officer.Tatoeba #1087594 by sacredceltic, translation #304636 by CK
- Veux-tu toujours être officier ?Do you still want to be an officer?This sentence uses officier to ask about a career as an officer.Tatoeba #2102213 by sacredceltic, translation #2090868 by CK
- L'officier encouragea ses hommes.The officer encouraged his men.This sentence uses officier to describe an officer encouraging men.Tatoeba #1008584 by U2FS, translation #1008569 by makarov
- Bonjour, Monsieur Dupont. Êtes-vous un officier de police?Hello, Mr. Dupont. Are you a police officer?
- Madame Leclerc, le commandant souhaite vous parler immédiatement.Ms. Leclerc, the commander wants to speak to you immediately.
- Capitaine Martin, merci d'avoir pris en charge cette mission délicate.Captain Martin, thank you for taking charge of this delicate mission.
- J'ai été arrêté par un flic hier soir.I was stopped by a cop last night.
- Méfie-toi des keufs, ils patrouillent dans le quartier.Be careful of the cops, they are patrolling the neighborhood.
- Bonjour, monsieur. Êtes-vous un gendarme ou un policier?Hello, sir. Are you a gendarme or a police officer?
- Appelez un agent de police, il y a eu un accident.Call a police officer, there has been an accident.
- Excusez-moi, monsieur. Quel est votre grade?Excuse me, sir. What is your rank?
- Le Commandant Dupuis vous reçoit dans son bureau.Commander Dupuis will see you in his office.
- 22 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Emma is stopped by a police officer for a traffic check.
- EmmaBonjour, monsieur l'officier.Hello, officer.
- LucasBonjour. Vos papiers, s'il vous plaît.Hello. Your papers, please.
- EmmaLes voici, monsieur l'officier.Here they are, officer.
- LucasMerci, Emma. Vous pouvez repartir.Thank you, Emma. You may go.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry officier, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
