sorcière
/sɔʁ.sjɛʁ/feminine
The English word 'witch' is translated into French as sorcière. Wiktionary also lists stryge.
Meaning: person who uses magic (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| sorcière | /sɔʁ.sjɛʁ/ | feminine |
| stryge | /stʁiʒ/ | archaic, feminine, literary |
sorcière is a noun used to describe a person who uses magic. In modern colloquial French, calling a woman a sorcière can be used as a metaphor for a woman who is perceived as mean, difficult or manipulative.
Which one should you use?
While sorcière refers specifically to a female witch, sorcier is the masculine counterpart used for a male practitioner of magic. The term stryge is a highly literary and archaic way to refer to a witch, often carrying a more predatory or monstrous connotation than sorcière.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The term stryge is a highly literary and archaic way to refer to a witch.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine form of the word is sorcier.
How do you pronounce it?
sorcière is pronounced /sɔʁ.sjɛʁ/. It has two syllables.
Did you know?
- The term stryge derives from the Greek word stríx, which actually refers to a type of owl rather than a human practitioner of magic.
- An English speaker might be surprised to find that sorcier can sometimes be used in French to describe a person who is exceptionally skilled or 'magical' at a non-magical task, like a 'sorcier du marketing'.
- The term stryge describes a creature that is not just a magic user but a monster that feeds on human blood or flesh.
Examples in context
- Brûle la sorcière !Burn the witch!This sentence shows how to use sorcière in a command.Tatoeba #8659286 by Micsmithel, translation #6477067 by AlanF_US
- Marie est une sorcière.Mary is a witch.This sentence demonstrates using sorcière to identify someone.Tatoeba #4581001 by franlexcois, translation #7367395 by Hybrid
- C'est une bonne sorcière.She's a benevolent witch.This sentence shows how to describe the nature of a sorcière.Tatoeba #4765171 by sacredceltic, translation #2588736 by Hybrid
- J'ai lu un livre de contes avec une sorcière bienveillante.I read a fairytale book with a benevolent witch.
- Mon ami pense que notre voisine est une sorcière!My friend thinks our neighbor is a witch!
- Dans le conte, il y avait une sorcière maléfique qui terrorisait le royaume.In the fairy tale, there was a maleficent witch terrorizing the kingdom.
- Les sorcières de cette histoire ont utilisé leur magie pour aider le héros.The witches in this story used their magic to help the hero.
- Les enfants ont déguisé leur amie en sorcière pour Halloween.The children dressed up their friend as a witch for Halloween.
- 30 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a fantasy novel at a cafe.
- ManonCette sorcière est très puissante dans l'histoire.This witch is very powerful in the story.
- NathanOui, elle terrifie tout le village.Yes, she terrifies the whole village.
- ManonEst-ce qu'elle est une mauvaise sorcière ?Is she a bad witch?
- NathanPas vraiment, elle est juste solitaire.Not really, she is just lonely.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “witch” translations and entries sorcière, stryge, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries sorcière, stryge, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
