secrétaire
/sə.kʁe.tɛʁ/feminine, masculine
The French word for secretary is secrétaire.
The term secrétaire refers to a person who keeps records and handles clerical work.
Meaning: person keeping records and handling clerical work (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Quebec, you may use agente de bureau or commis de bureau to refer to a secretary.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun secrétaire is epicene, which means it has the same form for both masculine and feminine genders. To specify the gender of the person, you change the article: use le secrétaire or un secrétaire for a male secretary and la secrétaire or une secrétaire for a female secretary.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables and is pronounced /sə.kʁe.tɛʁ/.
Did you know?
- In French, the word secrétaire also refers to a specific piece of furniture: a writing desk with a hinged cover and drawers.
- The word secrétaire is used to describe a species of bird known in English as the secretarybird because the feathers on its head look like quill pens.
- The word secrétaire shares its Latin root with the English word 'secret', meaning both a secretary and a 'secret' are technically things that are 'kept hidden' or 'held in confidence'.
Examples in context
- Rima est une secrétaire.Rima is a secretary.This sentence is useful for identifying Rima as a secrétaire.Tatoeba #11964286 by Amastan, translation #10209475 by Amastan
- Rima est devenue secrétaire.Rima became a secretary.This sentence describes Rima becoming a secrétaire.Tatoeba #11964287 by Amastan, translation #10209476 by Amastan
- Tom a congédié sa secrétaire.Tom fired his secretary.This sentence is an example of someone firing their secrétaire.Tatoeba #4134739 by Scorpionvenin14, translation #4132347 by CK
- La secrétaire de direction est très compétente.The executive secretary is very competent.
- J'ai pris rendez-vous avec le secrétaire administratif.I made an appointment with the administrative secretary.
- Ma sœur est secrétaire dans une petite entreprise.My sister is a secretary in a small company.
- Le secrétaire de bureau est en pause déjeuner.The office secretary is on lunch break.
- 59 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gabriel and Chloé are talking about a new employee at the office.
- GabrielEst-ce que Chloé est la nouvelle secrétaire ?Is Chloé the new secretary?
- ChloéOui, je suis la secrétaire ici.Yes, I am the secretary here.
- GabrielC'est super, bienvenue dans l'équipe !That's great, welcome to the team!
- ChloéMerci beaucoup, Gabriel.Thank you very much, Gabriel.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “secretary” translations and entries secrétaire, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries secrétaire, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
