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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? |
Related lessons
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