thérapeute
/te.ʁa.pøt/feminine, masculine
The English word 'therapist' is translated into French as thérapeute.
The term thérapeute refers to one who provides therapy. In more formal settings, you may encounter the term psychothérapeute as a general term for a broad range of professionals or psychologue specifically for professionals who offer therapy through discussion but cannot prescribe medication.
Meaning: one who provides therapy (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun thérapeute is epicene, which means the form remains the same regardless of whether it is masculine or feminine. To form the plural, add an s to the end of the word.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has three syllables and is pronounced /te.ʁa.pøt/.
Did you know?
- In French, if you call someone a thérapeute without a specific qualifier, they might assume you are referring to a holistic or alternative medicine practitioner rather than a clinical psychologist.
- The term psy is a ubiquitous, informal shorthand used for 'psychologue', 'psychiatre', or 'psychothérapeute' alike.
- In France, the title psychothérapeute is strictly regulated by law. To use this title, a professional must have a specific certification recognized by the state to prevent unauthorized people from practicing therapy.
Examples in context
- Mon thérapeute m'a dit de me rendre dans un bar et d'entamer une conversation avec quelqu'un qui me soit tout à fait étranger.My therapist told me to go to a bar and strike up a conversation with a complete stranger.Tatoeba #816510 by sacredceltic, translation #620087 by darinmex
- Mon thérapeute bande toujours quand il me voit.My therapist always gets hard when he sees me.Tatoeba #13191892 by menaud, translation #12532146 by LoverofEnglish
- Mon thérapeute a toujours une érection quand il me voit.My therapist always gets an erection when he sees me.Tatoeba #13191896 by menaud, translation #13191904 by menaud
- Je dois trouver un psychologue pour mon anxiété.I need to find a therapist for my anxiety.
- Y a-t-il des psychothérapeutes spécialisés dans la thérapie de couple ?Are there any therapists who specialize in couples counseling?
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas and Chloé are discussing Chloé's work schedule.
- LucasTu as rendez-vous avec ton thérapeute aujourd'hui ?Do you have an appointment with your therapist today?
- ChloéNon, je vois ma thérapeute demain après-midi.No, I am seeing my therapist tomorrow afternoon.
- LucasEst-ce qu'elle est gentille ?Is she kind?
- ChloéOui, elle m'aide beaucoup.Yes, she helps me a lot.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “therapist” translations and entries thérapeute, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
