Sébastien
/se.bas.tjɛ̃/
The English name Sebastian is translated into French as Sébastien.
Meaning: given name (name)
How do you pronounce it?
The word has three syllables: /se.bas.tjɛ̃/.
Did you know?
- The name Sébastien is strongly associated with the martyrdom of Saint Sebastian, who is frequently depicted in French art tied to a tree and pierced by arrows.
- In French, the name Sébastien is often shortened to the diminutive Séb among friends and family. This nickname follows a common French pattern of clipping names to create a more casual, affectionate tone.
- While the name is quite common in France, its popularity peaked in the late 20th century. If you meet an older gentleman in France, he is more likely to be named Pierre or Jean than Sébastien.
Examples in context
- Sébastien Cabot était le fils de Jean Cabot et devient aussi un explorateur.Sebastian Cabot was John Cabot's son and also became an explorer.This sentence shows the use of Sébastien in a historical context.Tatoeba #1273728 by Scott, translation #1273726 by Scott
- Salut, Sebastian! Comment ça va?Hello, Sebastian! How are you?
- Je m'appelle Sébastien.My name is Sébastien.
- Est-ce que Sébastien est là ?Is Sébastien here?
Example conversation
Gabriel and Chloé are talking about a mutual friend.
- GabrielEst-ce que Sébastien vient avec nous ?Is Sébastien coming with us?
- ChloéOui, Sébastien a dit qu'il serait là.Yes, Sébastien said he would be there.
- GabrielC'est super, je suis content de le voir.That's great, I'm happy to see him.
- ChloéMoi aussi, ça fait longtemps !Me too, it's been a long time!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sebastian” translations and entries Sébastien, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
