Homme is the most common way to say “man” in French. But there are several other options. As you learn French, you'll encounter many situations where knowing different ways to refer to men can be incredibly useful! Let’s look at 9 common and interesting ways to say “man” (and, sometimes, more than “man”) in French!

The standard 'man' or 'human' – homme

In French, homme is the most fundamental and widely used word for 'man'.

Its primary meaning refers to an adult male, much like 'man' in English.

However, homme also frequently encompasses 'humanity' or 'mankind', referring to all human beings.

As a masculine noun, its singular form is homme, and its plural is hommes. Both are pronounced identically, with the 'h' being silent.

When you're talking about an individual male, you'd use homme. For instance, un homme (a man) or l'homme (the man).

In a more abstract sense, it serves to denote the human species. A classic example is les droits de l'homme (human rights).

You'll also find homme in many common phrases and professions, like un homme d'affaires (a businessman) or un homme politique (a politician).

While often used for 'humanity', some contemporary discussions lean towards être humain (human being) for explicit gender neutrality, especially in formal or inclusive contexts, due to homme's male-specific primary meaning.

Despite these nuances, homme remains indispensable for both referring to men and broadly to humankind in French.

💡 * C'est un homme très gentil. (He's a very kind man.)

L'homme est mortel. (Man is mortal / Humans are mortal.)

Il a rencontré un homme dans la rue. (He met a man in the street.)

Les droits de l'homme sont universels. (Human rights are universal.)

C'est un homme d'honneur. (He is a man of honor.)

The informal 'guy' or 'dude' – mec

When you want to refer to a 'guy' or 'dude' in French in a very casual, informal way, the word you're looking for is mec.

This term is widely used among friends, young people, or in relaxed, everyday conversations. It's the French equivalent of saying 'dude', 'guy', or sometimes even 'bloke' in English.

Mec is exclusively masculine. For the plural, you simply add an 's' to get mecs, which is pronounced the same way as the singular form.

While informal, mec isn't inherently rude. Its tone depends heavily on context and intonation. It can be a friendly address among peers, or in some cases, a slightly dismissive way to refer to an unknown man.

Unlike the more neutral homme (man) or slightly more versatile gars (guy/boy), mec carries a stronger sense of familiarity and colloquialism. It's less formal than gars and generally not used in formal settings.

It's crucial to reserve mec for informal situations. Using it with strangers, authority figures, or in professional environments would be considered inappropriate or disrespectful. However, it can also informally mean 'boyfriend', similar to copain.

💡 * Salut les mecs, ça va ? (Hey guys, how's it going?)

C'est un bon mec. (He's a good guy.)

Tu connais ce mec ? (Do you know that guy?)

Il y a un mec bizarre qui nous regarde. (There's a weird guy looking at us.)

J'ai vu mon mec hier soir. (I saw my boyfriend last night.)

The common informal 'guy' or 'lad' – gars

Another extremely common and informal French word you'll frequently hear is gars. It translates roughly to 'guy,' 'lad,' or 'bloke' in English.

Gars is decidedly informal. You'll hear it often among friends, in casual conversations, or when referring to a group of men (or sometimes a mixed group, informally).

Grammatically, gars is always masculine. Interestingly, the singular and plural forms are spelled the same: un gars (one guy) and des gars (some guys). The difference is only heard in the article before it.

While it can refer to any man, it often implies a certain familiarity or camaraderie. It's not rude, but it's not something you'd typically use in a formal business meeting or when addressing someone you don't know well in a polite context.

You'll frequently hear it in expressions like Salut les gars ! ('Hey guys!') or when someone is describing a man in a relaxed way, C'est un bon gars. ('He's a good guy.')

💡 * C'est un bon gars. (He's a good guy.)

Regarde ces gars-là. (Look at those guys over there.)

On est entre gars. (We're just among guys/boys.)

Salut les gars ! (Hey guys!)

The other informal 'guy' or 'fellow' – type

Beyond pote for 'pal', French offers another very informal term to refer to a 'guy' or 'fellow': type.

Grammatically, type is a masculine noun. When used informally to mean 'guy' or 'fellow', it generally refers to a male, but can sometimes be used more broadly without specific gender implication, similar to 'some guy' or 'some fellow'.

It's important to note that type is highly informal and can sometimes carry a slightly dismissive or generic connotation, implying 'just some guy' or 'this fellow'. It's best used among close friends or in very casual contexts.

You'll often hear it in phrases like un type ('a guy') or le type ('the guy'). It can also be used to describe someone's character or personality, as in un type bien ('a good guy').

💡 * Qui est ce type ? (Who is that guy?)

J'ai vu un type bizarre dans la rue. (I saw a strange guy in the street.)

C'est un bon type. (He's a good fellow.)

Le type là-bas, c'est mon voisin. (The guy over there, that's my neighbor.)

The 'gentleman' or 'mister' – monsieur

The French word monsieur (often abbreviated as M.) is a fundamental term used to address or refer to a man, equivalent to 'Mr.' or 'sir' in English.

It is a formal and polite term, essential for showing respect in various social and professional contexts. Always use it when addressing someone you don't know well, or someone in a position of authority.

The plural form of monsieur is messieurs (abbreviated as MM.), meaning 'gentlemen' or 'sirs'. This is used when addressing or referring to multiple men.

Beyond a simple title, monsieur can also be used as a standalone polite address, similar to 'sir' when asking for attention or expressing politeness (e.g., 'Excusez-moi, monsieur').

In some contexts, especially older or more formal ones, monsieur can carry the connotation of a 'gentleman' or a man of good standing, reflecting a certain social grace.

💡 * Bonjour, Monsieur Dubois. (Hello, Mr. Dubois.)

Excusez-moi, monsieur, pouvez-vous m'aider ? (Excuse me, sir, can you help me?)

Mesdames et Messieurs, bienvenue ! (Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome!)

C'est un vrai monsieur. (He is a true gentleman.)

Monsieur le Président. (Mr. President.)

The 'sturdy man' or 'fellow' – gaillard

The French word gaillard (pronounced 'gah-yar') literally translates to 'sturdy man' or 'fellow.' It's often used to describe someone who is robust, healthy, strong, and sometimes cheerful or lively.

As a noun, un gaillard refers to a man who is strong, often physically imposing, and generally in good spirits. It carries a somewhat familiar and often affectionate tone, implying a certain vigor or resilience.

Gaillard can also be used as an adjective, meaning 'sturdy,' 'robust,' or 'vigorous.' For example, one might describe someone's health as gaillarde (feminine form) or a strong tree as gaillard.

The feminine form is gaillarde. You'll often hear expressions like un bon gaillard ('a good fellow' or 'a sturdy man') or un drôle de gaillard ('a strange fellow,' but with an underlying sense of robustness or character).

While informal, gaillard is generally positive or neutral, unlike some slang terms. It evokes an image of someone capable, resilient, and often good-natured. It's suitable for describing someone you know well or with a touch of admiration.

💡 *C'est un bon gaillard, il ne craint rien. (He's a sturdy fellow, he fears nothing.)
*Malgré son âge, il est toujours très gaillard. (Despite his age, he's still very vigorous.)
*Regarde ce gaillard, il a soulevé ça tout seul ! (Look at that fellow, he lifted that all by himself!)
*Elle est bien gaillarde pour son âge. (She's very robust for her age.)

The 'little man' or 'chap' – bonhomme

The word bonhomme is an endearing and informal French term that literally translates to 'good man' but is often used to mean 'little man,' 'chap,' or 'fellow.' It carries a sense of simplicity and sometimes a touch of affection.

It's typically used to describe a simple, good-natured, or even slightly naive man, or playfully for a child. It can also refer to a 'snowman' (bonhomme de neige) or a 'gingerbread man' (bonhomme en pain d'épices), indicating its connection to simple, often rounded figures.

Bonhomme is a masculine noun. Its plural form is irregular: bonshommes (dropping the 'h' and adding 's' before 'homme' becomes 'shommes').

💡 * C'est un bonhomme très gentil, toujours prêt à aider. (He's a very kind chap, always ready to help.)

Regarde ce petit bonhomme qui joue dans le jardin. (Look at that little fellow playing in the garden.)

Les enfants ont fait un bonhomme de neige hier. (The children made a snowman yesterday.)

Mes grands-parents sont de vieux bonshommes charmants. (My grandparents are charming old chaps.)

Il n'est qu'un bonhomme, il ne comprend pas tout. (He's just a simple fellow, he doesn't understand everything.)

The 'individual' (sometimes neutral, sometimes slightly dismissive) – individu

The French word individu is a masculine noun that translates directly to "individual" in English. At its core, it refers to a single person or entity distinct from others.

In many contexts, especially formal, scientific, or philosophical discussions, individu is used in a neutral way, simply meaning "a person." For instance, in sociology or law, it can refer to a member of a group or society without any particular judgment.

However, individu often carries a slightly dismissive or even pejorative nuance in everyday conversation. When used informally, it can imply "a character," "a fellow," or someone whose identity is unknown, unimportant, or viewed with suspicion. It can sound a bit vague or impersonal, lacking the respect implied by personne (person) or homme/femme (man/woman).

It's crucial to pay attention to the context and tone when encountering or using individu. While it can be perfectly neutral in academic settings, be mindful of its potential to sound cold or slightly critical in casual speech, especially when referring to an unknown or disliked person. If you simply mean "a person," une personne is generally a safer and more polite choice.

💡 * Chaque individu a droit au respect. (Each individual has a right to respect.)* L'étude analyse le comportement de l'individu face au changement. (The study analyzes the behavior of the individual in the face of change.)* Qui est cet individu que je vois dans le jardin? (Who is that individual/character I see in the garden?)* Un individu suspect a été aperçu près du bâtiment. (A suspicious individual was seen near the building.)

The 'bro' or 'mate' (informal, often among friends) – frère

While frère literally translates to "brother" in French, it's very commonly used in an informal context among friends, much like "bro" or "mate" in English.

This informal usage of frère is prevalent among younger generations and close friends. It signifies a strong bond or camaraderie, without necessarily implying a familial relationship.

Typically, frère in this informal sense is used by males referring to other males. While it can sometimes be extended to a mixed group or even very close female friends in a collective, casual way (e.g., "Salut les frères !"), its primary 'bro' meaning is predominantly masculine.

It's important to note that this is a highly casual and familiar term. Using frère in this way with someone you don't know well or in a formal setting would be inappropriate and could come across as disrespectful or overly familiar.

💡 *Salut, mon frère, ça va ? (Hey, bro, how's it going?)
*On va au ciné ce soir, frère ? (Are we going to the movies tonight, mate?)
*Merci pour ton aide, frère, t'es le meilleur ! (Thanks for your help, bro, you're the best!)
*C'est mon frère, on a fait les quatre cents coups ensemble. (He's my bro, we've been through everything together.)

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

Are there other ways to say “man” in French?

Our list features the most common ways to say “man” in French. But there are other terms, from old-fashioned ones, to regional ones, to up-and-coming slang ones this middle-aged author might not even be aware of!

You can also do an online search for “comment dire homme en ___” followed by a specific Francophone country or region.

You might find some interesting synonyms for homme on this list. Of course, make sure to check a word’s definition and try to see it used in context before you use it.

Pay attention as you read, watch, and listen to things in French — you may discover different ways to talk about men.

And if you’re looking for ways to talk about different kinds of men, or words related to men in French, the WordReference entry for homme is a great place to start!

I hope you found this article helpful. Here’s what I think is the perfect quote to finish it with, courtesy of Blaise Pascal: L'homme n'est qu'un roseau, le plus faible de la nature; mais c'est un roseau pensant. (Man is but a reed, the weakest in nature; but he is a thinking reed.)

9 ways to say "man" in French