traître
/tʁɛtʁ/masculine
The French word for traitor is traître.
The word traître is a noun used to describe one who betrays. It can also function as an adjective to mean traitorous.
Meaning: one who betrays, a betrayer (noun)
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine singular form is traître. To refer to a female traitor, use the feminine form traîtresse. For the plural of the masculine noun, use traîtres.
How do you pronounce it?
/tʁɛtʁ/
Did you know?
- In French, the word traître is often used to describe things that are misleadingly deceptive, such as a traître hiver to describe a sudden, unexpected cold snap.
- The word traître shares its roots with the English word 'tradition', as both stem from the Latin 'tradere', meaning 'to hand over'.
- The expression un traître à sa classe is a common political phrase used to describe someone who betrays the social or economic group they were born into.
Examples in context
- Tu es un traître.You're a traitor.This sentence illustrates how to use traître to identify someone.Tatoeba #1845693 by sacredceltic, translation #1841503 by CK
- Espèce de traître !You traitor!This sentence shows how to use traître in an exclamatory insult.Tatoeba #4653694 by sacredceltic, translation #3300062 by Hybrid
- Il devint un traître.He turned traitor.This sentence describes someone turning into a traître.Tatoeba #133508 by Aiji, translation #304632 by CK
- On le considère comme un félon.He is regarded as a traitor.
- Cet individu est un renégat.This individual is a traitor.
- Il s'est vendu à l'ennemi, le traître !He sold himself out to the enemy, the traitor!
- 18 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas and Chloé are talking about a friend who leaked a secret.
- LucasJe ne peux pas croire qu'il ait fait ça.I can't believe he did that.
- ChloéC'est vraiment un traître.He is truly a traitor.
- LucasOn ne peut plus lui faire confiance.We can't trust him anymore.
- ChloéJe suis d'accord avec toi, Lucas.I agree with you, Lucas.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “traitor” translations and entries traître, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries traître, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
