In English, the word 'host' is a jack-of-all-trades. It can be the person throwing a party, the presenter of a TV show, or even the company that keeps a website online. But in French, you'll need to be a bit more specific! Using the right word for 'host' depends entirely on the context.

If you're planning on inviting some new French friends over, or you just want to understand the nuances of the language better, you've come to the right place. Let’s explore the nine ways to say 'host' in French so you can always pick the perfect term!

The standard 'host' (and sometimes 'guest') – hôte/hôtesse

The standard 'host' (and sometimes 'guest') – hôte/hôtesse

Hôte is the primary French word for 'host'. However, it's famous among learners for being an énantiosème—a word that can also mean its complete opposite: 'guest'.

Like many French nouns, it changes form depending on who you're talking about:

hôte - a male host OR a male guest
hôtesse - a female host
hôtes - multiple hosts or guests (male or mixed gender)
hôtesses - multiple female hosts

Unlike ami/amie, there is no simple grammatical trick to tell the difference between 'host' and 'guest'. The meaning is almost 100% dependent on the context of the sentence. You must understand the situation to know who is giving and who is receiving.

The feminine form, hôtesse, provides a helpful clue. It almost exclusively means 'female host' (e.g., une hôtesse de l'air is an 'air hostess'). If you want to refer to a female guest, it's much clearer to use the word une invitée.

Look at this sentence: L'hôte a offert un cadeau à son hôte. Logically, the person offering the gift is the host, and the person receiving it is the guest. So, it translates to: 'The host offered a gift to his guest.'

Because of this potential confusion, in everyday speech, French speakers often use clearer words to avoid ambiguity:

For 'guest', the word un invité (masculine) or une invitée (feminine) is very common.
For 'host', the context is often enough, but you might hear phrases like celui qui invite (the one who invites).

Don't be intimidated by hôte! While it's a classic linguistic curiosity, 99% of the time the situation makes it perfectly clear who is the host and who is the guest. It's a great word to know to understand the nuances of the French language.

💡 * Le bon hôte s'assure que ses hôtes ne manquent de rien. (The good host makes sure his guests lack nothing.)

J'étais l'hôte de mes amis américains pendant une semaine. (I was the host for my American friends for a week.)

L'hôtesse nous a conduits à notre table. (The hostess showed us to our table.)

En tant qu'hôte, je me suis senti très bien accueilli. (As a guest, I felt very welcomed.)

Paris sera la ville hôte des prochains Jeux Olympiques. (Paris will be the host city for the next Olympic Games.)

The 'show host' or 'presenter' – animateur/animatrice

The “show host” or “presenter” – animateur/animatrice

The primary French words for a media host or presenter are animateur (masculine) and animatrice (feminine). These terms are derived from the verb animer, which means 'to animate,' 'to liven up,' or 'to lead.' This perfectly captures the role of a host: to bring energy and life to a program.

You will encounter these terms most often in the context of television (animateur de télévision), radio (animateur de radio), or live events like award ceremonies. Their job is to guide the show, interact with guests, and engage the audience, distinguishing them from a journaliste (journalist) who primarily reports news.

As with many French nouns for professions, gender agreement is essential. You must use animateur for a male host and animatrice for a female host. Forgetting this is a common mistake for learners. For example, 'He is a famous host' is C'est un animateur célèbre, while 'She is a famous host' is C'est une animatrice célèbre.

It's also useful to know that animateur/animatrice has a broader meaning outside of media. It can refer to any kind of activity leader or facilitator, such as a camp counselor (animateur de colonie de vacances) or a workshop leader. The core concept of 'animating' a group remains the same.

💡 * L'animateur de ce jeu télévisé est très populaire en France.

Elle a commencé sa carrière comme animatrice de radio.

Qui est l'animatrice de la cérémonie des Césars cette année ?

L'animateur a bien géré le débat entre les invités.

The 'party host' (at home) – le maître/la maîtresse de maison

When someone hosts a party or gathering at their home, the French term for the host is le maître de maison (for a man) or la maîtresse de maison (for a woman).

Literally translating to 'the master/mistress of the house,' this term emphasizes the host's role as the one in charge of the event within their own private space. It carries a slightly traditional or formal tone.

This expression is specifically used for social gatherings in a private residence. You wouldn't use it for a professional host at a restaurant or a formal event venue, where l'hôte or l'hôtesse would be more appropriate.

Here are the forms you'll encounter:

le maître de maison: the male host
la maîtresse de maison: the female host
les maîtres de maison: multiple male hosts or a mixed-gender hosting couple

Be aware that the word maîtresse on its own can also mean 'mistress' in the sense of a lover, or a female primary school teacher (maîtresse d'école). However, within the full phrase maîtresse de maison, the meaning is clearly 'hostess'.

💡 * Le maître de maison nous a servi un excellent vin. (The host served us an excellent wine.)

Merci à la maîtresse de maison pour cette soirée formidable ! (Thanks to the hostess for this wonderful evening!)

En tant que maître de maison, il s'assure que tout le monde est à l'aise. (As the host, he makes sure everyone is comfortable.)

C'est une excellente maîtresse de maison ; ses dîners sont toujours parfaits. (She is an excellent hostess; her dinners are always perfect.)

The 'event host' or 'organizer' – organisateur/organisatrice

The French words for an 'event host' or 'organizer' are organisateur for masculine and organisatrice for feminine. These terms are essential for discussing events and planning.

These nouns directly translate to 'organizer.' They describe the person responsible for planning and executing any type of event, from a small party to a large professional conference. The context determines whether 'host' or 'organizer' is the better English equivalent.

Remember to match the noun to the gender of the person. Use l'organisateur for a male host and l'organisatrice for a female host. This distinction is fundamental in French grammar and applies to articles and adjectives modifying the noun.

Both nouns are derived from the verb organiser, which means 'to organize.' Recognizing this connection can help you remember the vocabulary, as in 'Elle organise la fête, donc elle est l'organisatrice.' (She is organizing the party, so she is the organizer.)

💡 * L'organisateur de l'événement a fait un excellent travail. (The event organizer did an excellent job.)

Marie est l'organisatrice principale de la conférence. (Marie is the main organizer of the conference.)

Les organisateurs ont pensé à tout pour la fête. (The organizers thought of everything for the party.)

C'est une organisatrice très talentueuse. (She is a very talented organizer.)

The 'restaurant host' or 'greeter' – hôte/hôtesse d’accueil

To talk about a 'restaurant host' or 'greeter' in French, you use the terms hôte d’accueil for a male host and hôtesse d’accueil for a female one.

These terms literally translate to 'welcoming host/hostess.' They refer to the professional role of the person who greets and seats guests at the entrance of an establishment like a restaurant, hotel, or event.

The key is the addition of d’accueil (of welcome). While hôte or hôtesse alone can mean 'host' (e.g., someone hosting a party at home), adding d'accueil specifies this professional, front-of-house role.

This is the standard, formal term for the job title. In conversation, you might simply refer to them as l'hôte or l'hôtesse if the context is clear, but the full title is common in professional settings.

When you arrive at a French restaurant and need to be seated, you can confidently approach the person at the entrance and know they are the hôte or hôtesse d’accueil.

💡 * L'hôtesse d'accueil nous a conduits à notre table. (The hostess led us to our table.)

Adressez-vous à l'hôte d'accueil pour confirmer votre réservation. (Speak to the host to confirm your reservation.)

Elle postule pour un poste d'hôtesse d'accueil dans un hôtel de luxe. (She is applying for a position as a hostess in a luxury hotel.)

L'hôte d'accueil était très souriant et professionnel. (The host was very smiley and professional.)

The 'web host' or 'server host' – hébergeur

In the digital world, the French term for a 'web host' or 'server host' is hébergeur.

The noun hébergeur comes directly from the verb héberger, which means 'to host,' 'to house,' or 'to accommodate.' In a technical context, an hébergeur is a company that provides the necessary technology and services for a website to be accessible on the internet.

The service itself is called l'hébergement web (web hosting). An hébergeur manages the physical serveur (server) where your website's files are stored. Understanding these related terms is key to discussing web infrastructure in French.

Hébergeur is a specific, professional term used in IT, web development, and business. It is not slang. It's important not to confuse it with hôte, which refers to a person hosting a guest in their home. For example, you have an hébergeur for your website, but an hôte for your Airbnb stay.

In short, if you're discussing websites or online services in French, hébergeur is the correct and standard term for a hosting provider. It's an essential piece of vocabulary for any tech-related conversation.

💡 * Quel hébergeur web recommandes-tu pour un nouveau site ?

Je dois contacter mon hébergeur car mon site est très lent aujourd'hui.

Le choix d'un bon hébergeur est crucial pour la sécurité de vos données.

Mon contrat d'hébergement avec cet hébergeur expire le mois prochain.

The 'host' city or country – la ville/le pays hôte

When describing a 'host' city or country for an event like the Olympics or World Cup, French uses the word hôte. It functions as an adjective placed after the noun it describes.

The adjective hôte is invariable, meaning it doesn't change for gender or number. You pair it with the appropriate noun: la ville hôte (the host city) is feminine because ville is feminine, and le pays hôte (the host country) is masculine because pays is masculine.

Be aware that as a noun, un hôte or une hôte can mean both 'host' and 'guest'. However, in the specific phrases ville hôte or pays hôte, the meaning is always 'host' in the sense of the location holding an event.

💡 * Paris est la ville hôte des Jeux Olympiques de 2024. (Paris is the host city for the 2024 Olympic Games.)

Quel sera le prochain pays hôte pour la Coupe du Monde ? (What will be the next host country for the World Cup?)

La ville hôte doit garantir la sécurité de tous les participants. (The host city must guarantee the safety of all participants.)

The 'biological host' (for a parasite) – hôte

The French word hôte is a unique and potentially confusing noun because it holds two opposite meanings. In a scientific context, it refers to a 'biological host'.

In biology or medicine, an hôte is an organism that harbors another organism, such as a parasite. It provides nourishment and shelter. This is the direct translation for 'host' in a parasitological sense.

Be aware that outside of science, hôte can mean both 'host' (the person throwing a party) and 'guest' (the person attending). This makes it an auto-antonym, a word that can mean the opposite of itself.

To understand whether hôte means 'biological host', 'party host', or 'guest', you must rely entirely on the context. If the discussion involves biology, parasites, or viruses, it refers to the organism being inhabited.

💡 * Le moustique est l'hôte du parasite qui cause le paludisme. (The mosquito is the host of the parasite that causes malaria.)

Pour survivre, ce virus a besoin de trouver une cellule hôte. (To survive, this virus needs to find a host cell.)

L'étude examine la relation complexe entre le parasite et son hôte. (The study examines the complex relationship between the parasite and its host.)

1. The 'host' who receives guests (formal) – amphitryon

A highly formal and literary term for a host is amphitryon. This word specifically refers to the person who receives and entertains guests, particularly at a meal or a grand reception. It is not used in everyday language and carries a sophisticated, almost classical, connotation.

The term's elevated status comes from its origin in Greek mythology. Amphitryon was a king of Tiryns, and the name became synonymous with a generous host after a play by the French playwright Molière. In his play Amphitryon, a famous line states, 'Le véritable Amphitryon est l’Amphitryon où l’on dîne' (The true Amphitryon is the one with whom you dine).

The feminine form is amphitryonne, used for a female host in the same formal context. Remember, in most daily situations, you would simply use the common words hôte (for a male host) or hôtesse (for a female host). Reserve amphitryon for when you want to add a touch of literary flair or describe a particularly grand host.

💡 * Notre amphitryon nous a offert un banquet mémorable. (Our host offered us a memorable banquet.)

En tant qu'amphitryon de la soirée, il s'est assuré que chaque invité se sente à l'aise. (As the host of the evening, he made sure every guest felt comfortable.)

L'amphitryonne a salué personnellement chacun de ses convives. (The hostess personally greeted each of her guests.)

C'est un véritable amphitryon, toujours ravi de recevoir des amis à dîner. (He is a true host, always delighted to have friends over for dinner.)

Are there other ways to say 'host' in French?

Our guide has covered the most common ways to say 'host' in French, focusing on hôte, hôtesse, animateur, and animatrice. However, the French language is full of nuances, and you'll find other terms in specific contexts, from formal titles to modern slang.

You can expand your vocabulary by searching for specific roles. For example, look up “comment dire talk show host en français” or “comment dire event host en français” to find the precise term for each situation.

Remember that context is key. The word for a television host is rarely the same as the one for a dinner party host. Before using a new word, always check its definition and try to see it used in a real-life example.

Pay attention when you watch, read, and listen to French content. You'll start to notice the different words used for hosts on TV shows, at conferences, or in private gatherings. This is one of the best ways to learn the subtleties of the language.

If you want to explore more synonyms or related concepts, the dictionary entries and forums on WordReference or Larousse for words like hôte and animateur are excellent resources for seeing these words in action.

I hope this article has been a helpful guide. Let's finish with a classic and witty line from the French playwright Molière: Le véritable Amphitryon est l’Amphitryon où l’on dîne. (The real host is the one with whom one dines.) It perfectly captures the spirit of true hospitality.

'9 ways to say "host" in French'