pairs
The English phrase peers is translated into French as pairs.
The term pairs is used to refer to peers in a broad sense. Depending on the specific social or professional context, different words may be more appropriate: Collègues is used for peers in a professional setting, while Confrères is used to address peers within a particular profession. In casual contexts among young people, Copains/Copines is often used to refer to friends or peers.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Quebec, Canada, the colloquial term les chums is used to address friends or peers.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Be careful not to confuse the French pairs (meaning peers) with the English word 'pairs' (meaning sets of two). In French, the word for a set of two is paires.
Did you know?
- While copain refers to a peer or friend, the word comes from the Latin cum panis, meaning those who share bread together.
- In a formal French social context, referring to someone as one of one's pairs can sound more like you are discussing social status or nobility than mere professional equality.
- The word pairs is central to the historical French legal concept of jugement par ses pairs. This refers to the right to be tried by a jury of one's equals.
Examples in context
- Je m'adresse à vous, mes pairs.I'm talking to you, my peers.This sentence shows how to address a group of peers using pairs.Tatoeba #2096629 by sacredceltic, translation #2096212 by gleki
- Elle était la meilleure d'entre ses pairs.She was the best among her peers.This sentence illustrates how to describe someone being the best among her pairs.Tatoeba #13452495 by sacredceltic, translation #13375043 by Igider
- Les enfants imitent leurs pairs plutôt que leurs parents.Children imitate their peers rather than their parents.This sentence demonstrates how children imitate their pairs instead of parents.Tatoeba #11398732 by lbdx, translation #8768748 by AlanF_US
- Mes collègues m'ont aidé à terminer le projetMy peers helped me complete the project
- En tant que médecin, il est important de discuter avec mes confrères régulièrementAs a doctor, it is important for me to regularly discuss with my peers
- Les pairs sont essentiels pour un environnement d'apprentissage sainPeers are essential for a healthy learning environment
- Les collègues dans mon équipe me soutiennent tout le temps.The peers in my team support me all the time.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Emma and Gabriel are discussing a professional evaluation at work.
- EmmaEst-ce que tu as eu le retour de tes pairs ?Did you get the feedback from your peers?
- GabrielOui, ils ont été très encourageants.Yes, they were very encouraging.
- EmmaC'est important d'être reconnu par ses pairs.It is important to be recognized by one's peers.
- GabrielJe suis d'accord, Emma.I agree, Emma.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
