French Suffixes -man -woman


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Les suffixes –man et –woman

French has a number of nouns that end in -man, either borrowed directly from English or franglicized:

un barman		barman, bartender
un businessman un biznessman		businessman
un caméraman un cameraman		cameraman
un clapman		clapper loader, 2nd AC
un clergyman		clergyman
un gagman		gag writer
un gentleman		gentleman
un jazzman		jazzman, jazz musician
un ombudsman		ombudsman
un perchman	(cinema)	boom operator
un policeman		policeman, police officer
un recordman		men’s record holder, champion
un reporter-caméraman un reporter-cameraman		news reporter and cameraman
un rugbyman		rugby player
un self-made-man		self-made man
un superman		superman, (ironic) terrific guy
un taximan		taxi driver
un tennisman		tennis player
un wattman	(archaic)	tram driver
un yachtman un yachtsman		yacht owner, yachtsman
un yeoman		yeoman

Only a few have feminine equivalents.

une businesswoman une biznesswoman		businesswoman
une camérawoman une camerawoman		camerawoman
une recordwoman		women’s record holder, champion
une reporter-camérawoman une reporter-camerawoman		news reporter and camerawoman
une rugbywoman		rugby player
une superwoman		superwoman, (ironic) terrific woman
une taxiwoman		taxi driver
une tenniswoman		tennis player

Notes

Because these words are either franglais or faux anglicisms, there are two different plurals:

Following the usual French rule: add silent –s (generally considered more correct)
Doubling down on the franglais with the irregular English: –man becomes –men

Par exemple…

Les barmans / barmen ici sont les meilleurs !		The barmen here are the best!
Qui sont tes rugbywomans / rugbywomen préférées ?		Who are your favorite female rugby players?