vie privée
/vi pʁi.ve/
The English phrase "privacy" is translated into French as vie privée.
vie privée is used to describe the general concept of one's private life and the legal right to privacy. It is also used to express the idea of a "private life". Other terms exist for specific contexts: confidentialité describes the confidentiality or secrecy of information, while intimité refers to one's personal intimacy or the most private, inner parts of one's life.
Meaning: freedom from publicity, scrutiny, surveillance, etc. (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase vie privée literally translates to "private life".
Which one should you use?
While vie privée refers to the general concept of one's private life and legal right to privacy, intimité refers more specifically to one's personal intimacy or the most private, inner parts of one's life.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun vie is feminine, so the adjective privée must take an e at the end to agree in gender.
How do you pronounce it?
/vi pʁi.ve/
Did you know?
- French law provides very strong protections for vie privée, including strict rules against publishing photos of people without their consent, even in public spaces.
- The adjective privée comes from the Latin 'privatus', meaning 'deprived' or 'set apart from the public'.
- In French culture, the distinction between vie privée (private life) and vie publique (public life) is often more rigidly drawn than in the United States.
Examples in context
- Je tiens à ma vie privée.I value my privacy.This sentence is useful for expressing that you value your vie privée.Tatoeba #13388618 by lbdx, translation #3830668 by CK
- N'empiète pas sur sa vie privée.Don't intrude on her privacy.This sentence is useful for telling someone not to intrude on someone else's vie privée.Tatoeba #1186948 by sacredceltic, translation #309040 by CM
- Prière de respecter ma vie privée.Please respect my privacy.This sentence is useful for requesting that someone respect your vie privée.Tatoeba #8421837 by marioo, translation #4499703 by CK
- Le respect de l'intimité est fondamental dans ce bureau.Respecting privacy is essential in this office.
- Nous devons garantir la confidentialité des données personnelles de nos clients.We must ensure the privacy of our clients' personal data.
- On a besoin d'un peu d'intimité pour discuter tranquillement.We need some privacy to talk quietly.
- Je souhaite préserver mon intimité.I want to preserve my privacy.
- Je n'aime pas quand ma vie privée est envahie.I don't like it when my privacy is invaded.
- Pouvez-vous respecter mon espace personnel ?Could you please respect my personal space?
- 26 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Manon and Hugo are discussing their digital security.
- ManonJe veux protéger ma vie privée.I want to protect my privacy.
- HugoC'est important pour ta vie privée.It is important for your privacy.
- ManonLe piratage menace ma vie privée.Hacking threatens my privacy.
- HugoTu devrais changer tes mots de passe.You should change your passwords.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry vie privée, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
