sportif
/spɔʁ.tif/
The English phrase "sportive" is translated into French as sportif.
The word is used to describe a person who is interested in sports. Note that while it looks like the English word "sportive", it does not mean playful or frisky.
Meaning: interested in sport (adj)
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine singular is sportif, the feminine singular is sportive, the masculine plural is sportifs and the feminine plural is sportives.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables and is pronounced /spɔʁ.tif/.
Did you know?
- While sportif is a general term, the French often use the noun sportif to refer to a professional athlete, such as in the phrase les sportifs de haut niveau.
- The adjective sportif can describe a style of clothing, such as une tenue sportive, which refers to athletic wear or 'sportswear' rather than the personality of the person wearing it.
- French has a specific term esprit sportif to describe 'sportsmanship', a concept that lacks a single-word equivalent in English.
Examples in context
- Il est porté vers les activités sportives.He is inclined towards sports activities.
- Mon frère est très sportif.My brother is very sporty.
- Il cherche un partenaire sportif pour le tennis.He is looking for a sporty partner for tennis.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing their weekend plans at a cafe.
- LéaTu veux aller courir demain ?Do you want to go running tomorrow?
- LucasOui, je suis très sportif, je ne refuse jamais.Yes, I am very sporty, I never refuse.
- LéaC'est super, Lucas !That's great, Lucas!
- LucasOn se retrouve au parc à dix heures ?Shall we meet at the park at ten o'clock?
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry sportif, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
