éclaireur
/e.klɛ.ʁœʁ/
The French word for scout is éclaireur.
The term refers to a member of a scouting organization.
Meaning: member of scouting organizations (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word éclaireur is derived from the verb éclairer, which means to light up or to illuminate. It literally suggests someone who goes ahead to light or clear the way.
How does it change in a sentence?
To refer to a female scout, use the feminine form éclaireuse. For a group consisting of only male scouts or a mixed-gender group, use the masculine plural éclaireurs.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables and is pronounced /e.klɛ.ʁœʁ/.
Did you know?
- In French, the word éclair means 'lightning bolt', sharing the same root as éclaireur through the idea of a sudden flash of light.
- Historically, éclaireurs were the vanguard troops who ensured the road was safe before the main army advanced.
- While éclaireur refers to the person, the organization itself is often called les Scouts in France, adopting the English word directly.
Examples in context
- Tom est éclaireur.Tom is a Boy Scout.This sentence is useful for seeing how to identify someone's role as an éclaireur.Tatoeba #8598390 by Micsmithel, translation #1490261 by Spamster
- Je suis scout depuis trois ans et j'adore ça!I have been a scout for three years, and I love it!
- Notre association compte de nombreux éclaireurs talentueux.Our association has many talented scouts.
- Mon frère est éclaireur.My brother is a scout.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hugo and Léa are talking about their childhood hobbies.
- HugoÉtais-tu éclaireur quand tu étais petit ?Were you a scout when you were little?
- LéaNon, mais ma sœur l'était.No, but my sister was.
- HugoC'est génial pour apprendre à camper.That's great for learning how to camp.
- LéaOui, elle a beaucoup de badges.Yes, she has a lot of badges.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry éclaireur, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
