pickpocket
/pik.pɔ.kɛt/masculine
The English phrase pickpocket translates to French as pickpocket or voleur à la tire.
Meaning: one who steals from the pocket of a passerby (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| pickpocket | /pik.pɔ.kɛt/ | masculine |
| voleur à la tire | /vɔ.lœʁ a la tiʁ/ | masculine |
In French, a pickpocket is a person who steals from the pocket of a passerby.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase voleur à la tire literally translates to 'thief at the pull' or 'thief by tugging'.
Which one should you use?
Voleur à la tire is the more formal and descriptive term used in standard French compared to the anglicism pickpocket.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Quebec, Canada, the informal term un(e) tire-laine is used to refer to a pickpocket.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural of the loanword pickpocket is formed by adding an 's' as in English, resulting in pickpockets. For the phrase voleur à la tire, only the noun becomes plural, resulting in voleurs à la tire.
How do you pronounce it?
The word pickpocket is pronounced /pik.pɔ.kɛt/ and has 3 syllables.
Did you know?
Examples in context
- Tom fut victime d'un pickpocket.Tom was the victim of a pickpocket.This sentence uses the form pickpocket to show someone being a victim.Tatoeba #3468511 by Lulantis, translation #3466811 by patgfisher
- J'ai été victime d'un pickpocket.I was a victim of a pickpocket.Tatoeba #4064208 by Scorpionvenin14, translation #4064038 by Caecilius
- Un policier a attrapé le voleur à la tire.A policeman caught the pickpocket.This sentence uses the form voleur à la tire to describe a thief being caught by a policeman.Tatoeba #12853914 by lbdx, translation #9086872 by DJ_Saidez
- J'ai été victime d'un voleur à la tire dans le métro.I was a victim of a pickpocket in the subway.
- Méfie-toi des pickpockets quand tu voyages à Paris.Beware of pickpockets when you travel to Paris.
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hugo and Chloé are talking about a recent incident in the metro.
- HugoIl y avait un pickpocket dans le métro.There was a pickpocket in the metro.
- ChloéEst-ce qu'il a volé ton sac, Hugo ?Did he steal your bag, Hugo?
- HugoNon, mais il a été très rapide.No, but he was very fast.
- ChloéFais bien attention à tes affaires.Pay close attention to your belongings.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pickpocket” translations and entries pickpocket, voleur à la tire, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries la, pickpocket, tire, voleur, à, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
