prédateur
/pʁe.da.tœʁ/
The English word "pred" (as in predator) translates to prédateur in French.
In French, prédateur refers to an animal that naturally preys on others. Do not confuse this with terms for religious speakers: prédicateur refers to someone who delivers sermons, and prêcheur refers to a preacher or someone delivering religious speeches.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine singular is prédateur, while the feminine form for a female predator is prédatrice. For the plural, use prédateurs to refer to multiple predators of either masculine or mixed gender.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables and is pronounced /pʁe.da.tœʁ/.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Be careful not to use prédateur when referring to someone delivering religious speeches. Instead, use prédicateur or prêcheur.
Did you know?
- While prédateur describes animals, if you call a person a prédateur in a social context, it often implies a sexual predator rather than just a competitive person.
- The Latin root of prédateur, *praedator*, is also the distant ancestor of the English word 'prey'.
- The feminine form prédatrice can also be used as a noun to describe a woman who is aggressively ambitious or opportunistic in her professional or romantic life.
Examples in context
- Le lion est un prédateur redoutable.The lion is a fearsome predator.
- Ce petit oiseau est un prédateur naturel.This small bird is a natural predator.
- L'homme est devenu un prédateur pour la nature.Man has become a predator to nature.
Example conversation
Léa and Gabriel are visiting a zoo.
- LéaRegarde le loup, Gabriel !Look at the wolf, Gabriel!
- GabrielC'est un prédateur très efficace.It is a very efficient predator.
- LéaIl a l'air très rapide.He looks very fast.
- GabrielOui, c'est normal pour lui.Yes, that is normal for him.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry prédateur, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries prédateur, CC BY-SA 4.0.
