vecteur
/vɛk.tœʁ/masculine
The English word "vector" is vecteur in French.
The term vecteur is used to describe a directed quantity. When describing a vector that carries or transmits something (like a disease or a signal), use the preposition 'de' after 'vecteur'.
Meaning: directed quantity (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of vecteur is vecteurs.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables and is pronounced /vɛk.tœʁ/.
Did you know?
- In French, vecteur is used in medicine to describe the organism that transmits a pathogen, but in epidemiology, it is often distinguished from a porteur, which is a person who carries a disease without symptoms.
- In French linguistics, a vecteur can refer to a specific element of a sentence that carries a certain grammatical or semantic meaning.
- In French, the word vecteur can also refer to a 'carrier' in a metaphorical sense, such as a 'vecteur de croissance' or 'growth driver', used frequently in business and economics.
Examples in context
- Les moustiques sont vecteurs de maladies.Mosquitoes are a vector for disease.This sentence illustrates using vecteur to describe a carrier of disease.Tatoeba #3529513 by sacredceltic, translation #3500762 by _undertoad
- Le gradient d'une fonction scalaire de plusieurs variables est le vecteur qui contient ses dérivées partielles par rapport à chacune de ses variables (lorsque ces dérivées existent).The gradient of a scalar-valued function of several variables is the vector which contains its partial derivatives with respect to each of its variables (when these derivatives exist).This sentence shows a mathematical context for the word vecteur.Tatoeba #6137603 by Selenyt, translation #6137605 by Selenyt
- La force est un vecteur qui indique la direction et l'intensité du mouvement.Force is a vector that indicates the direction and intensity of motion.
- Le vecteur de la force est tracé sur le schéma.The force vector is drawn on the diagram.
Example conversation
Two students are studying physics in a library.
- ManonPeux-tu m'aider avec ce vecteur ?Can you help me with this vector?
- GabrielBien sûr, quel est le problème, Manon ?Of course, what is the problem, Manon?
- ManonJe ne comprends pas la direction de ce vecteur.I don't understand the direction of this vector.
- GabrielRegarde simplement la flèche sur le graphique.Just look at the arrow on the graph.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “vector” translations and entries vecteur, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
