survivant
masculine
The English phrase survivor can be translated into French as survivant. If unsure, use survivant. Wiktionary also lists rescapé.
Meaning: one who survives (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| survivant | masculine | |
| rescapé | /ʁɛs.ka.pe/ | masculine |
A survivor is one who survives.
Which one should you use?
While survivant is a general term for one who survives, rescapé specifically refers to a survivor of a specific catastrophe, accident or shipwreck.
How does it change in a sentence?
The feminine form of survivant is survivante. If you are using the term for a survivor of a disaster or accident, the feminine form of rescapé is rescapée.
Did you know?
- In French, survivant can be used to describe someone who has outlived their spouse or children, whereas rescapé would never be used in this context.
- The word survivant is a cognate with the Spanish sobreviviente and the Portuguese sobrevivente, showing a shared Latin root for 'living over' or 'living beyond'.
- In literary contexts, rescapé often carries a stronger connotation of 'the lucky one' or 'the sole survivor' compared to the more clinical survivant.
Examples in context
- Tu es un survivant.You're a survivor.This sentence is useful for saying you are a survivor using survivant.Tatoeba #6937013 by Aiji, translation #2218042 by CK
- Je suis un survivant.I'm a survivor.Tatoeba #10316859 by Rovo, translation #5851224 by CK
- Je suis la seule survivante.I'm the only survivor.This sentence is useful for saying you are the only survivor using survivant.Tatoeba #10703620 by lbdx, translation #10703612 by CK
- Le survivant du cancer a inspiré de nombreux patients.The cancer survivor has inspired many patients.
- Les personnes ayant survécu au naufrage ont été secourues par les garde-côtes.The people who survived the shipwreck were rescued by the coastguard.
- Les rescapées du naufrage ont été retrouvées sur une île déserte.The survivors of the shipwreck were found on a deserted island.
- Regarde, c'est celle qui s'en est sortie indemne de l'incendie.Look, she is the one who made it out unharmed from the fire.
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chloé and Nathan are talking about a movie they just watched.
- ChloéLe héros est le seul survivant.The hero is the only survivor.
- NathanC'est vraiment triste pour les autres.That is really sad for the others.
- ChloéOui, mais Nathan, regarde son courage.Yes, but Nathan, look at his courage.
- NathanC'est vrai, c'est un survivant courageux.That's true, he is a brave survivor.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “survivor” translations and entries survivant, rescapé, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries rescapé, survivant, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
