colocataire
/kɔ.lɔ.ka.tɛʁ/feminine, masculine
The French word for roommate is colocataire. Wiktionary also lists coloc.
Meaning: US: with whom one shares an apartment or house (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| colocataire | /kɔ.lɔ.ka.tɛʁ/ | feminine, masculine |
| coloc | /kɔ.lɔk/ | familiar, feminine, masculine |
colocataire refers to a person with whom one shares an apartment or house.
What does it mean word for word?
The word is formed from the prefix colo- (co-) and locataire (tenant), literally meaning "co-occupant".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
colocataire is the standard term, while coloc is a widely-used, colloquial abbreviation. Using coloc is similar to using "roomie" or "roommate" in an informal way.
How does it change in a sentence?
colocataire is an epicene noun, so it has the same form for both masculine and feminine genders. When using the informal coloc, you must still use the masculine mon or feminine ma to match the gender of the person you are referring to.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /kɔ.lɔ.ka.tɛʁ/. It has 4 syllables.
Did you know?
- In France, the culture of colocation has expanded beyond students to colocations intergénérationnelles, where a young person lives with a senior citizen to provide company and reduce costs.
- Unlike the English 'roommate', which can imply sharing a single bedroom, a colocataire almost always shares the common areas of a flat while having their own private bedroom.
- The word locataire shares its root with the English word 'location', as both derive from the Latin 'locare' meaning to let or rent a place.
Examples in context
- Ma colocataire est folle.My roommate is crazy.This sentence is useful for describing a colocataire.Tatoeba #11576545 by Aiji, translation #2900725 by Hybrid
- Je déteste ma colocataire.I hate my roommate.This sentence is useful for expressing feelings about a colocataire.Tatoeba #2445386 by gillux, translation #2439743 by Hybrid
- Je vis avec ma colocataire.I live with my roommate.This sentence is useful for stating that you live with a colocataire.Tatoeba #7699798 by Maxence, translation #2764786 by _undertoad
- J'habite avec un colocataire dans un appartement à Paris.I live with a roommate in an apartment in Paris.
- Mon compagnon de logement et moi partageons les dépenses équitablement.My roommate and I split the expenses equally.
- Mon coloc m'a préparé un délicieux dîner hier soir.My roommate cooked me a delicious dinner last night.
- Je vais passer la soirée chez ma coloc'.I'm going to spend the evening at my roommate's place.
- 17 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gabriel and Manon are talking at a cafe about their living situations.
- GabrielTu cherches un nouveau colocataire ?Are you looking for a new roommate?
- ManonOui, ma colocataire actuelle part demain.Yes, my current roommate is leaving tomorrow.
- GabrielC'est difficile de trouver un bon colocataire.It is difficult to find a good roommate.
- ManonC'est vrai, j'espère trouver quelqu'un de calme.That's true, I hope to find someone quiet.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “roommate” translations and entries colocataire, coloc, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries colocataire, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
