Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| serviteur | /sɛʁ.vi.tœʁ/ | archaic, masculine |
| domestique | /dɔ.mɛs.tik/ | feminine, masculine |
| servante | /sɛʁ.vɑ̃t/ | feminine |
The term refers to someone hired to perform regular household or other duties in exchange for compensation.
Which one should you use?
While serviteur is an archaic term or one used in specific contexts like religious or formal service, domestique is the standard term for a household servant.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Domestique (masculine) is the most common formal term for a servant in French. In contrast, serviteur is considered archaic and is rarely used in modern daily conversation to describe household staff. It is more commonly found in formal, literary or religious contexts, such as describing a "servant of God".
How does it change in a sentence?
The word domestique is the same for both masculine and feminine forms.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has three syllables and is pronounced /sɛʁ.vi.tœʁ/.
Did you know?
- In the context of professional cycling, a domestique is a teammate who performs supportive roles to help the team leader win the race.
- In many French-speaking African countries, the term for a house help might differ from the standard European French domestique to avoid colonial connotations.
- If you call a person mon domestique today, it may sound condescending or overly formal, as modern French speakers often prefer terms like employé de maison.
Examples in context
- Tu es mon serviteur.You are my servant.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of serviteur.Tatoeba #11152421 by Rovo, translation #6058240 by mailohilohi
- Je ne suis pas ta servante.I'm not your servant.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of servante.Tatoeba #1945364 by sacredceltic, translation #1943946 by Spamster
- Le serviteur a balayé le sol.The servant swept the floor.Tatoeba #7760423 by lbdx, translation #267405 by CK
- 19 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas and Manon are acting in a historical play.
- LucasJe suis ton humble serviteur, mon seigneur.I am your humble servant, my lord.
- ManonC'est bien, Lucas. Apporte-moi mon manteau.Very well, Lucas. Bring me my coat.
- LucasTout de suite, madame.Right away, madam.
- ManonTu joues ton rôle de serviteur parfaitement.You are playing your role as a servant perfectly.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “servant” translations and entries serviteur, domestique, servante, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
