riche
/ʁiʃ/
The English word 'wealthy' can be translated into French using riche. Wiktionary also lists nanti.
Meaning: rich (adj)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA |
|---|---|
| riche | /ʁiʃ/ |
| nanti | /nɑ̃.ti/ |
riche is a common way to say wealthy in French. While riche implies great wealth, the term nanti often suggests someone is well-off or has a comfortable, secure financial position.
Which one should you use?
riche is used to describe someone who is wealthy, whereas nanti suggests someone is well-to-do or in a comfortable financial position.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective riche is invariable in gender, meaning the form remains the same for both masculine and feminine subjects. To make it plural, add an s to get riches. Unlike riche, the adjective nanti must agree in both gender and number with the noun it modifies, such as using the plural form nantis.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʁiʃ/
Did you know?
- If you want to describe someone as 'stinking rich' in a colloquial way, a French speaker might use the term blindé, which literally means 'armoured'.
- French has a specific expression être riche comme Crésus to describe extreme wealth. This refers to Croesus, the king of Lydia, who was legendary for his gold in antiquity.
- An English speaker might be surprised to find that riche and the English 'rich' are cognates of the Old English word rīċe, which originally meant a kingdom or a realm.
Examples in context
- Je ne suis pas riche.I'm not wealthy.This sentence is useful for expressing that you are not wealthy using riche.Tatoeba #4842591 by sacredceltic, translation #3329938 by CK
- Elias était si riche.Elias was so wealthy.This sentence is useful for describing someone who was very wealthy using riche.Tatoeba #11620477 by Amastan, translation #11611758 by Amastan
- Je suis un homme riche.I'm a wealthy man.This sentence is useful for describing a wealthy man using riche.Tatoeba #7799842 by felix63, translation #5858933 by CK
- Il est très richeHe is very wealthy
- Elle mène une vie aiséeShe leads a wealthy life
- Il est pété de thune, ce mecThat guy is loaded
- Elle est super friquéeShe is super wealthy
- Paul est très riche. Il possède de nombreuses propriétés à Paris.Paul is very wealthy. He owns multiple properties in Paris.
- Ma grand-mère mène une vie aisée après avoir travaillé dur toute sa vie.My grandmother leads a wealthy life after working hard all her life.
- Louis a gagné à la loterie. Il est désormais fortuné et peut se permettre tout ce qu'il souhaite.Louis won the lottery. He is now wealthy and can afford anything he wants.
- 33 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gabriel and Chloé are talking about a famous actor at a cafe.
- GabrielCet acteur est très riche.This actor is very rich.
- ChloéOui, il est vraiment riche.Yes, he is truly wealthy.
- GabrielIl possède une maison magnifique.He owns a magnificent house.
- ChloéC'est une vie de luxe.It is a life of luxury.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “wealthy” translations and entries riche, nanti, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries nanti, riche, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
