senior
In French, the word for older is senior.
In modern French, senior is commonly used as a noun to refer to senior citizens, particularly in the context of marketing, discounts or social categories.
Meaning: older (adj)
Which one should you use?
While senior is used for age-related categories, if you mean 'senior' in terms of professional hierarchy or rank, you should use supérieur rather than senior. For someone seen as deserving respect or reverence because of their age, you may use the noun ancien.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some regions, particularly in academic or administrative contexts, le/la doyen(ne) can be used to refer to a senior or dean.
Related words
When do people say it?
The terms pépé (grandpa) and mémé (grandma) are informal and affectionate ways to refer to a senior person.
Did you know?
- French marketers often use the word senior as a trendy anglicism to avoid the clinical or negative connotations of traditional French words for old age.
- The word senior is a linguistic relative of the French word seigneur, which means 'lord'.
- The term doyen is used to identify the most senior member of many prestigious groups, ranging from high-ranking diplomats to members of the French National Assembly.
Examples in context
- Les enfants et les seniors reçoivent une réduction dans ce cinéma.Children and senior citizens receive a discount at this cinema.This sentence shows how senior can be used to describe a group receiving a discount.Tatoeba #13692704 by Ioan_Cristian, translation #13692705 by Ioan_Cristian
- Mon frère aîné est très sage et expérimenté.My older brother is very wise and experienced.
- Salut, le vieux! Comment ça va aujourd'hui?Hey, old man! How are you doing today?
- Ma mémé s'occupe toujours de nous avec tant d'amour.My grandma always takes care of us with so much love.
- Le doyen de la faculté nous a accordé une audience.The dean of the faculty granted us an audience.
- Mamadou est l'aîné de sa famille et porte de grandes responsabilités.Mamadou is the senior member of his family and bears great responsibilities.
- Ce club est réservé aux seniors.This club is reserved for seniors.
- Il y a beaucoup de seniors dans ce parc.There are many seniors in this park.
Example conversation
Hugo and Manon are walking in a city park.
- ManonRegarde, il y a beaucoup de seniors ici.Look, there are many seniors here.
- HugoOui, c'est un endroit très calme.Yes, it is a very calm place.
- ManonEst-ce que tu veux t'asseoir avec eux ?Do you want to sit with them?
- HugoNon, je préfère marcher un peu.No, I prefer to walk a bit.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries senior, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
