femme
/fam/feminine
The English word woman is translated into French as femme.
The term femme refers to an adult female person. Depending on the context, it can also mean 'wife'.
Meaning: adult female person (noun)
Which one should you use?
While femme is the standard term for a woman, Dame is used to mean 'lady' and is typically applied to older or married women, particularly in legal or administrative settings. In everyday conversation, especially when referring to younger adults, the word Fille (which translates to 'girl') is often used. For a more colloquial way to refer to a young woman or girl, you can use Nana.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of femme is femmes. The word for the adjective 'female' is féminin.
How do you pronounce it?
/fam/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using the word femelle to refer to a woman. In French, femelle is a biological term used specifically for animals.
Did you know?
- The word femme is a distant relative of the English word 'mammal', as both trace back to a root meaning 'to suckle'.
Examples in context
- Tu es une femme.You are a woman.This sentence shows how to use femme to identify someone.Tatoeba #1229183 by Salutlolo, translation #1228743 by CM
- La femme est nue.The woman is naked.This sentence uses femme to describe a woman's state.Tatoeba #939781 by sacredceltic, translation #939780 by Valodnieks
- Je vois une femme.I see a woman.This sentence shows the use of femme when observing someone.Tatoeba #9151661 by Julien_PDC, translation #9150563 by CK
- La femme est une figure puissante dans la société.The woman is a powerful figure in society.
- Elle est une femme d'affaires influente.She is an influential businesswoman.
- 765 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Léa and Hugo are talking about a new colleague.
- LéaQui est cette femme là-bas ?Who is that woman over there?
- HugoC'est la nouvelle directrice.That is the new director.
- LéaElle a l'air très gentille.She seems very kind.
- HugoOui, c'est une femme intelligente.Yes, she is an intelligent woman.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “woman” translations and entries femme, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries femme, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
