policier
/pɔ.li.sje/masculine
The English phrase "police officer" is translated into French as policier. Wiktionary also lists gendarme and agent de police.
Meaning: peace officer who is a member of a police force (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| policier | /pɔ.li.sje/ | masculine |
| gendarme | /ʒɑ̃.daʁm/ | masculine |
| agent de police | /a.ʒɑ̃ d(ə) pɔ.lis/ | masculine |
A policier is a peace officer who is a member of a police force.
Which one should you use?
While policier is a common term, agent de police is used for more formal or administrative contexts. If you are referring specifically to an officer belonging to a military force, who typically serves in smaller towns or rural areas, use gendarme.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For formal or administrative situations, use agent de police. In informal or slang contexts, you might encounter flic (similar to the English "cop") or keuf.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In France, the slang word poulet is used to refer to a police officer.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine form is policier, while the feminine form for a female police officer is policière.
How do you pronounce it?
/pɔ.li.sje/
Did you know?
- The word keuf is an example of verlan, a type of French slang that reverses the syllables of words, creating a mirrored version of flic.
- The term gendarme is actually a linguistic contraction of the phrase gens d'armes, which literally translates to 'armed people'.
- The slang word flic is believed by some historians to come from the sound of a police officer's footsteps or the 'click' of handcuffs.
Examples in context
- T'es un policier ?Are you a police officer?This sentence is useful for asking if someone is a policier.Tatoeba #4601016 by Amastan, translation #2784510 by sharptoothed
- Il y a un policier.There's a police officer.This sentence is useful for stating that there is a policier.Tatoeba #11733885 by Aiji, translation #5642976 by CarpeLanam
- Ils parlent au policier.They are talking with the police officer.This sentence is useful for describing people talking to a policier.Tatoeba #5975429 by tbarnier, translation #5974623 by diegohn
- J'ai fait appel à un agent de police pour régler le conflit.I called a police officer to resolve the conflict.
- Le policier m'a interrogé au sujet du vol.The police officer questioned me about the theft.
- 26 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas and Manon see a patrol car on the street.
- LucasRegarde, il y a un policier là-bas.Look, there is a police officer over there.
- ManonPourquoi est-il arrêté ici ?Why is he stopped here?
- LucasJe pense que le policier aide quelqu'un.I think the police officer is helping someone.
- ManonC'est gentil de sa part.That is kind of him.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “police officer” translations and entries policier, gendarme, agent de police, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries agent, de, gendarme, police, policier, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
