ambulancier
/ɑ̃.by.lɑ̃.sje/masculine
The French word for paramedic is ambulancier.
ambulancier refers to a person trained to stabilize people outside of a hospital. While the English word 'paramedic' often implies advanced medical training, the French term ambulancier can sometimes refer more broadly to the person driving the ambulance, though it remains the standard term for the profession.
Meaning: person trained to stabilize people outside of hospital (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine singular form is ambulancier. To refer to a female paramedic, use the feminine form ambulancière. For a group of male paramedics or a mixed-gender group, use the masculine plural ambulanciers.
How do you pronounce it?
/ɑ̃.by.lɑ̃.sje/
Did you know?
- The French concept of emergency transport is often split between the Sapeurs-Pompiers (firefighters) and the ambulanciers. In many French cities, the fire department handles the primary medical response rather than a dedicated paramedic agency.
- The term ambulancier is used in French to describe the historical stretcher-bearers of the Napoleonic wars, long before motorized vehicles existed.
- In France, an ambulancier is distinct from a SAMU doctor. While the ambulancier transports the patient, the SAMU (Service d'Aide Médicale Urgente) brings the hospital's emergency room directly to the street via a mobile intensive care unit.
Examples in context
- Est-ce que tu te souviens du nom de l'ambulancier qui m'a sauvé la vie ?Do you remember the name of the paramedic that saved my life?This sentence is useful for asking about the identity of an ambulancier who provided life-saving assistance.Tatoeba #11599870 by Aiji, translation #3241711 by CK
- Je veux devenir ambulancier.I want to become a paramedic.
- Les samuistes sont très courageux.Paramedics are very brave.
- Le personnel médical d'urgence intervient rapidement.Emergency medical personnel respond quickly.
- L'ambulancier est arrivé très rapidement.The paramedic arrived very quickly.
- Il travaille comme ambulancier depuis trois ans.He has been working as a paramedic for three years.
Example conversation
Hugo and Manon are talking about a recent accident on the street.
- HugoTu as vu l'ambulancier sur la route ?Did you see the paramedic on the road?
- ManonOui, il aidait la victime.Yes, he was helping the victim.
- HugoCet ambulancier semblait très calme.That paramedic seemed very calm.
- ManonC'est nécessaire dans ces situations.That is necessary in these situations.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “paramedic” translations and entries ambulancier, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
