effectif
/e.fɛk.tif/
In French, the English phrase 'roster' is translated as effectif.
The term effectif is most commonly used to refer to the total number of people in a group or staff, such as a staff or a team.
Meaning: a list of names (noun)
Which one should you use?
While English uses 'roster' to refer to the list itself, French often uses effectif to refer to the headcount or the size of the group being listed. Depending on your specific meaning, other terms may be more accurate: use liste de présence for an attendance list or tableau de service for a duty roster that specifies when people are working.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
effectif is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/e.fɛk.tif/
Did you know?
- To refer to a 'roster' of people available for a task, French may use vivier, which literally means 'fish pond'.
- If a manager speaks of réduire l'effectif, they are not just shortening a list but are referring to the corporate process of layoffs.
- While effectif describes a group's size, the French word for 'roster' in a sports context is often feuille de match, which literally means 'match sheet'.
Examples in context
- L'effectif du club est très réduit.The club's roster is very small.
- Quel est l'effectif total de l'équipe ?What is the team's total roster size?
Example conversation
Two colleagues are discussing a project team.
- ChloéAs-tu l'effectif pour ce projet ?Do you have the roster for this project?
- HugoOui, je l'ai sur mon bureau.Yes, I have it on my desk.
- ChloéEst-ce que Hugo est sur l'effectif ?Is Hugo on the roster?
- HugoNon, il ne participe pas cette fois.No, he is not participating this time.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry effectif, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
