radar
/ʁa.daʁ/masculine
The English word 'radar' is translated into French as radar.
The term radar refers to the method of detecting distant objects by analyzing reflected radio waves, or to the field of study itself. When specifically referring to a device used by police to monitor vehicle speeds, it is frequently used as part of the phrase radar de contrôle de vitesse.
Meaning: method of detecting a distant object by analysing radio waves which are sent towards the object and which reflect off its surfaces, field of study of this method (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun is masculine, meaning it is used with masculine articles such as un or le.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʁa.daʁ/
Did you know?
- While 'radar' is an acronym in English, the French treat radar as a standard noun and do not capitalize it unless it starts a sentence.
- In casual conversation, a French person might say le radar to refer to the police officer monitoring the traffic rather than the machine itself.
- French drivers use the verb flasher to describe the moment a radar captures their image, referring to the bright light of the camera.
Examples in context
- Le bateau était équipé d'un radar.The boat was equipped with radar.This sentence shows how to describe a boat that is equipped with the radar.Tatoeba #10465766 by lbdx, translation #45714 by CK
- Ce bateau n'est pas équipé de radar.The ship is not equipped with radar.Tatoeba #470379 by sacredceltic, translation #45698 by CK
- La police a installé un piège radar.The police set up a radar trap.This sentence shows how the police use a radar to set a trap.Tatoeba #1679387 by sacredceltic, translation #1676604 by Spamster
- La police a installé un radar à l'extérieur de la ville pour surveiller la vitesse des voitures.The police have installed a radar outside the city to monitor vehicle speeds.
- Je me suis fait prendre par le radar de vitesse hier, j'ai reçu une amende.I got caught by the speed radar yesterday, I received a fine.
Example conversation
Chloé and Gabriel are looking at a weather monitor in a control room.
- ChloéGabriel, tu vois quelque chose sur le radar ?Gabriel, do you see anything on the radar?
- GabrielNon, le radar ne montre rien pour l'instant.No, the radar shows nothing for now.
- ChloéC'est étrange, il devrait y avoir un point.That's strange, there should be a dot.
- GabrielAttend, le radar commence enfin à réagir.Wait, the radar is finally starting to react.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “radar” translations and entries radar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
