Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| bénévole | /be.ne.vɔl/ | feminine, masculine |
| volontaire | /vɔ.lɔ̃.tɛʁ/ | feminine, masculine |
You can use bénévole to refer to someone who performs unpaid work, often for a charity. You can also use volontaire to describe someone who steps forward to perform a specific task or mission. Both terms can function as nouns or as adjectives. To express the action of volunteering oneself for a task, you should use the pronominal verb phrase se porter volontaire.
Which one should you use?
Use bénévole when emphasizing that the work is unpaid or done for a charity. Use volontaire when emphasizing the act of stepping forward or enlisting for a specific task or mission.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Both bénévole and volontaire function as both nouns and adjectives. They are both used for masculine and feminine forms.
How do you pronounce it?
The word bénévole is pronounced /be.ne.vɔl/ and consists of 3 syllables.
Did you know?
- In French, someone who is volontaire can also be described as having a 'strong' or 'determined' personality, regardless of whether they are volunteering for a task.
- The word bénévole shares its roots with the English word 'benevolent', though in French it specifically denotes someone working without pay.
- While 'volunteer' in English covers many contexts, using volontaire to describe a person in a professional setting can sometimes imply they are an 'enlisted' person in the military.
Examples in context
- Je suis un bénévole.I'm a volunteer.This sentence is useful for stating that you are a bénévole.Tatoeba #10705547 by AutoBot, translation #5858291 by CK
- Nous cherchons un volontaire.We're looking for a volunteer.This sentence is useful for stating that you are looking for a volontaire.Tatoeba #6936985 by Aiji, translation #2531349 by CK
- Je veux un volontaire pour m'aider.I want a volunteer to help me.This sentence is useful for stating that you want a volontaire to help.Tatoeba #2427336 by sacredceltic, translation #2013941 by CK
- Je suis bénévole dans une association caritative.I am a volunteer in a charity organization.
- Je suis un volontaire dans une mission humanitaire.I am a volunteer in a humanitarian mission.
- Je veux faire du bénévolat dans un refuge pour animaux.I want to volunteer at an animal shelter.
- Tu veux venir en tant que bénévole à notre événement ?Do you want to come as a volunteer to our event?
- J'ai besoin de volontaires pour organiser cette fête surprise.I need volunteers to organize this surprise party.
- Nous sommes à la recherche de volontaires pour notre association.We are looking for volunteers for our organization.
- Je souhaite contribuer à des actions bénévoles liées à l'environnement.I wish to contribute to volunteer actions related to the environment.
- On a besoin de bénévoles pour l'événement de ce week-end.We need volunteers for this weekend's event.
- Je suis prêt à donner un coup de main pour aider à nettoyer le parc.I am ready to give a helping hand to help clean the park.
- Tu veux être bénévole avec moi lors de notre voyage à l'étranger ?Do you want to be a volunteer with me during our trip abroad?
- 20 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nathan and Léa are discussing community work at a cafe.
- NathanTu es bénévole pour l'association ?Are you a volunteer for the association?
- LéaOui, je suis bénévole depuis un an.Yes, I have been a volunteer for a year.
- NathanC'est impressionnant, Léa.That is impressive, Léa.
- LéaMerci, Nathan, c'est vraiment utile.Thank you, Nathan, it is really useful.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “volunteer” translations and entries bénévole, volontaire, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bénévole, volontaire, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
