statut social
/sta.ty sɔ.sjal/masculine
The English phrase social status is translated into French as statut social.
The term refers to the honor or prestige attached to one's position in society.
Meaning: honor or prestige attached to one's position in society (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of statut social is statuts sociaux.
Did you know?
- In very formal or old-fashioned French, one might discuss a person's condition to refer to their social standing, a word that English speakers often associate only with a state of being.
- The phrase statut social is often discussed in France through the lens of la méritocratie, a cultural obsession with whether one's position is earned through education and exams.
- Unlike English where 'status' can mean 'current state' (as in 'status report'), statut social exclusively refers to rank or position. To describe a current state, French uses état.
Examples in context
- Il est avocat, donc il a un statut social élevé.He is a lawyer, so he has a high social status.
- Elle a fait des études supérieures, son niveau social s'en ressent.She pursued higher education, which reflects in her social status.
- Son statut social est très élevé.His social status is very high.
- Le statut social influence parfois les relations.Social status sometimes influences relationships.
- Elle cherche à améliorer son statut social.She is seeking to improve her social status.
Example conversation
Gabriel and Chloé are discussing a historical period at a cafe.
- GabrielLe statut social était très important autrefois.Social status was very important in the past.
- ChloéC'est vrai, la hiérarchie était stricte.That's true, the hierarchy was strict.
- GabrielChloé, penses-tu que cela a changé ?Chloé, do you think that has changed?
- ChloéOui, c'est devenu plus complexe aujourd'hui.Yes, it has become more complex today.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “social status” translations and entries statut social, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
