Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| retraite | /ʁə.tʁɛt/ | feminine |
| pension | /pɑ̃.sjɔ̃/ | feminine |
In French, both words refer to the regular payment received for past services. However, to avoid confusion with other meanings, the standard way to specify a retirement pension is to use the phrase pension de retraite. You may also encounter terms such as le régime de retraite for a retirement plan or la retraite anticipée for early retirement.
Which one should you use?
While both words relate to financial support, they have different nuances. Retraite refers to the state of being retired or the retirement fund itself. In contrast, pension can also refer to a boarding house or the cost of lodging and meals.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Both pension and retraite are feminine nouns. The plural form of la pension is les pensions.
How do you pronounce it?
The word retraite is pronounced /ʁə.tʁɛt/ and consists of two syllables.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often use the word 'pension' to mean the concept of 'retirement' itself. In French, you should use la retraite to describe the state of being retired and use la pension to refer specifically to the money received.
Did you know?
- The French word retraite comes from the verb se retirer, meaning 'to withdraw' or 'to retreat'. This links retirement to the military act of pulling back from a battlefield.
- In French, pensionner can be used as a verb meaning to send a child to a boarding school.
- The word pension is derived from the Latin word pēnsus, which means 'weighed'. This refers to a time when payments were made by weighing out precious metals.
Examples in context
- Elle vit avec une petite pension.She lives on a small pension.This sentence uses pension to describe living on a small amount of money.Tatoeba #134140 by Julien_PDC, translation #312460 by CK
- Le vieil homme vit de sa pension de retraite.The old man lives on his pension.This sentence uses pension as part of the phrase pension de retraite to specify a retirement pension.Tatoeba #12630913 by lbdx, translation #43347 by CK
- Il lui est difficile de vivre de sa maigre pension.It's hard for him to live on his small pension.Tatoeba #13839 by sacredceltic, translation #29125 by CM
- J'ai cotisé à plusieurs pensionsI have contributed to multiple pensions
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Léa and Hugo are discussing their future plans.
- LéaTu penses prendre ta retraite quand ?When do you think you'll retire?
- HugoJe pense partir à soixante-cinq ans.I think I'll leave at sixty-five.
- LéaEst-ce que ta retraite sera suffisante ?Will your pension be enough?
- HugoOui, je pense que ça ira.Yes, I think it will be fine.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pension” translations and entries retraite, pension, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pension, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
