soldat
/sɔl.da/masculine
The French word for soldier is soldat.
soldat is used to refer to a member of an army. It is the most general and commonly used term for a soldier in French.
Meaning: member of an army (noun)
Which one should you use?
While soldat is the general term, militaire is a term used to describe a soldier encompassing all branches of the military. If you are referring specifically to a soldier in the infantry, you may use troupier.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine singular form is soldat. To refer to a female soldier, use the feminine form soldate. To make the noun plural, add an 's' to the end to form soldats, though the pronunciation of the word remains the same.
How do you pronounce it?
/sɔl.da/
Did you know?
- The word soldat shares a linguistic ancestor with the English word 'soldier' via the Latin word solidus, which was a gold coin used to pay troops in the late Roman Empire.
- Before soldat became the standard term, French used the word soudard. This older term eventually took on a negative connotation, often implying a coarse or uncouth soldier.
- In French, militaire can function as both a noun referring to a person and an adjective describing things related to the army.
Examples in context
- Ziri est un soldat.Ziri is a soldier.This sentence is useful for identifying someone as a soldat.Tatoeba #12243345 by Rovo, translation #10209488 by Amastan
- Le soldat a disparu.The soldier vanished.This sentence is useful for describing the disappearance of a soldat.Tatoeba #11837618 by Amastan, translation #11195572 by Amastan
- Cet homme est soldat.That man is a soldier.This sentence is useful for stating that a man is a soldat.Tatoeba #2164945 by sacredceltic, translation #2163147 by Source_VOA
- Mon grand-père était un poilu pendant la Première Guerre mondiale.My grandfather was a poilu during World War I.
- Le soldat a reçu une médaille pour son service exemplaire.The soldier received a medal for his exemplary service.
- 55 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Léa and Gabriel are talking about a family member's job.
- LéaTon frère est soldat, Gabriel ?Is your brother a soldier, Gabriel?
- GabrielOui, il est soldat dans l'armée.Yes, he is a soldier in the army.
- LéaC'est un métier courageux.It is a brave profession.
- GabrielMerci, c'est très difficile pour lui.Thanks, it is very difficult for him.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “soldier” translations and entries soldat, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
