The word 'person' might seem simple, but in French, you'll find a surprising variety of terms to express this concept, each with its own specific context and nuance. Mastering these different words is essential for speaking French more naturally and precisely, whether you're referring to an individual, a group, or a specific type of person. Ready to expand your vocabulary? Let's explore 9 different ways to say 'person' in French and discover when to use each one!

The standard 'person' or 'anyone' – personne

The standard 'person' or 'anyone' – personne

Personne is a versatile French word that can mean 'person' (as a noun) or 'no one' / 'nobody' (as a negative pronoun).

Even when referring to a man, personne is always grammatically feminine and singular. You will always use une personne or la personne.

As a noun, personne simply means 'a person'. For example, C'est une personne très intelligente. (She is a very intelligent person.)

Crucially, personne also functions as a negative pronoun, translating to 'no one' or 'nobody'. This is where many learners get confused, but context makes it clear.

When personne means 'no one', it forms part of a negative construction with ne. It replaces pas, so you'll see ne... personne.

In simple tenses (like the present), personne follows the conjugated verb. Example: Je ne vois personne. (I see no one.)

In compound tenses (like passé composé), personne follows the past participle. Example: Je n'ai vu personne. (I saw no one.)

When personne functions as the subject of a sentence meaning 'no one', the ne still precedes the verb. Example: Personne n'est venu. (No one came.)

Distinguishing between personne as 'a person' and personne as 'no one' usually relies on the presence of ne. If ne is used, it's almost always the negative pronoun. Without ne, it's the noun.

💡 * C'est une personne très gentille. (She is a very kind person.)

Il n'y a personne ici. (There is no one here.)

Je ne connais personne à cette fête. (I don't know anyone at this party.)

Personne n'est parfait. (No one is perfect.)

Nous avons rencontré une personne intéressante. (We met an interesting person.)

The 'individual' or 'person' – individu

The French word individu (masculine) directly translates to 'individual' or 'person' in English. While it might seem straightforward, its usage carries specific nuances compared to other words for 'person' in French.

Individu is often found in more formal, scientific, or administrative contexts where you're referring to a person as a distinct unit or a member of a larger group, without necessarily implying personal connection. Think of it as 'an individual' rather than 'a person' in casual conversation.

Unlike personne, which is a very common and versatile word for 'person', individu tends to emphasize the distinctness or singularity of a human being. It can be used when discussing human rights, psychological studies, or when making a general statement about human nature.

The connotation of individu can sometimes be slightly detached or even negative, especially if used in a casual context to refer to someone you don't know or don't respect. For example, "C'est un drôle d'individu" (He's a strange individual) implies a certain judgment or distance.

It's important to remember that individu is always a masculine noun, even if referring to a female person. So you would say un individu or l'individu, regardless of the gender of the person being discussed.

While both individu and personne can mean 'person', personne is generally the go-to word for 'a person' or 'people' in everyday conversation, carrying a more neutral and common tone. Individu reserves itself for specific, often more formal or analytical, contexts.

💡 * Chaque individu a droit au respect. (Every individual has the right to respect.)

L'individu est un être social. (The individual is a social being.)

On a arrêté un individu suspect près de la scène du crime. (A suspicious individual was arrested near the crime scene.)

C'est un individu très indépendant. (He is a very independent individual.)

The 'human being' or 'human' – être humain

When you want to refer to a 'human being' or simply 'human' in French, the most common and precise term is être humain.

This phrase literally translates to 'to be human.' In this construction, être functions as a noun, meaning 'being' or 'entity', while humain is an adjective meaning 'human'.

As a compound noun, être humain agrees in gender and number. You'll use: un être humain (a male human being), une être humaine (a female human being), des êtres humains (plural, masculine or mixed), and des êtres humaines (plural, feminine).

Être humain is broadly applicable in both formal and informal discourse, often used when discussing humanity, human nature, or the species as a whole, rather than a specific individual.

While personne translates to 'person,' être humain specifically emphasizes the biological, philosophical, or species-level aspect of being human. It's about 'a member of the human species' rather than just 'an individual person'.

💡 * Chaque être humain a le droit à la dignité. (Every human being has the right to dignity.)

Nous sommes tous des êtres humains, avec nos forces et nos faiblesses. (We are all human beings, with our strengths and weaknesses.)

L'être humain est capable de compassion et de cruauté. (The human being is capable of compassion and cruelty.)

Elle est une être humaine exceptionnelle. (She is an exceptional human being.)

The 'guy' or 'fellow' (informal) – type

In informal French, type translates to ‘guy,’ ‘fellow,’ or ‘bloke’ in English. It's used to refer to a person, typically male, in a casual context.

This term is widely used in everyday conversations, often when speaking about an unknown individual or someone without using their name. It's highly informal and should be used in casual settings.

Type is grammatically masculine and singular. For the plural, you simply add an 's': types. While typically referring to males, it can sometimes be used more generally to mean 'a kind of person' or 'a sort of thing'.

💡 * C'est qui ce type ? (Who's that guy?)

J'ai rencontré un type sympa hier soir. (I met a nice guy last night.)

Il y a des types qui attendent devant la porte. (There are some guys waiting at the door.)

Quel est son type ? (What's his type? - referring to personality/character)

C'est le type de personne qui ne dit jamais non. (He's the kind of person who never says no.)

The 'bloke' or 'dude' (very informal, masculine) – mec

The French word mec is a highly informal, slang term for 'guy,' 'bloke,' 'dude,' or 'man.'

It's commonly used in casual conversations among friends or in very relaxed social settings, similar to how 'dude' or 'bloke' might be used in English.

Mec is exclusively masculine and always refers to a male person. You would never use it to refer to a woman.

Despite its informal nature, mec is extremely common in spoken French, especially among younger generations. It's an everyday part of modern French slang.

While versatile, remember to reserve mec for informal contexts and male individuals. Using it in formal situations or towards women would be inappropriate.

💡 * Salut, mec ! Ça va ? (Hey, dude! How's it going?)

C'est qui ce mec ? (Who's that guy?)

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

Les mecs, on y va ! (Guys, let's go!)

Il est sympa, ce mec. (He's a nice guy.)

The 'gal' or 'chick' (informal, feminine) – nana

The "gal" or "chick" (informal, feminine) – nana

In French, nana is an informal, colloquial term for a woman or girl. It's often translated to English as "gal," "chick," or sometimes "broad," highlighting its casual and sometimes slightly familiar nature.

This word is frequently used in informal settings, among friends, or in popular culture. While it can be affectionate or neutral among close acquaintances, its connotation can vary. Depending on the context and tone, it can be playful, slightly dismissive, or even mildly derogatory. It's less common in formal speech and more prevalent in everyday, casual conversations.

It's important for learners to use nana with caution. While not inherently offensive, it lacks the respect and neutrality of terms like femme (woman) or jeune femme (young woman). Avoid using nana in formal situations, when addressing someone you don't know well, or when you want to express politeness or respect. It's best reserved for very informal contexts where its casualness is understood and accepted.

💡 * C'est une super nana ! (She's a great gal!)

J'ai vu une nana sympa au café. (I saw a nice gal at the cafe.)

Ces nanas sont mes amies depuis l'enfance. (These gals have been my friends since childhood.)

Elle est vraiment cool, cette nana. (She's really cool, that chick.)

The 'character' or 'figure' (in a story/public life) – personnage

The French word personnage primarily refers to a character in a story, play, movie, or book. It's the individual who drives the narrative.

Beyond fiction, personnage can also describe a figure or personage in public life, often someone important, famous, or noteworthy. Think of a 'key figure' or 'prominent personality'.

It's crucial to remember that personnage is always a masculine noun, regardless of the gender of the character or person it refers to. So, you will always use un personnage or le personnage.

💡 *Le personnage principal du film est très attachant. (The main character of the film is very endearing.)
*Elle a étudié les personnages historiques de la Révolution française. (She studied the historical figures of the French Revolution.)
*C'est un personnage clé dans l'histoire de la ville. (He is a key figure in the city's history.)
*J'adore les personnages bien développés dans les romans. (I love well-developed characters in novels.)

The 'someone' or 'somebody' – quelqu'un

In French, the indefinite pronoun quelqu'un translates directly to "someone" or "somebody" in English. It's used when referring to an unspecified or unknown person.

Quelqu'un is always treated as singular and masculine, regardless of the actual gender or number of the person it might implicitly represent. This means any verbs or adjectives agreeing with it will also be in the masculine singular form.

You will frequently find quelqu'un in both affirmative statements and questions where the identity of the person is either unknown, unimportant, or intentionally left vague. It can function as both the subject and the object of a sentence.

💡 * Quelqu'un a laissé son parapluie ici. (Someone left their umbrella here.)

As-tu vu quelqu'un d'intéressant à la fête? (Did you see anyone interesting at the party?)

Je cherche quelqu'un pour m'aider avec ce projet. (I'm looking for someone to help me with this project.)

Quelqu'un est venu me rendre visite hier soir. (Somebody came to visit me last night.)

The 'mortal' or 'human' (philosophical/literary) – mortel

Delving into the French word mortel reveals a nuanced meaning beyond just 'deadly.' In philosophical and literary contexts, mortel often translates to 'mortal' or 'human,' emphasizing our finite existence.

Derived from la mort (death), the adjective mortel fundamentally refers to that which is subject to death. When used to describe a person or humanity, it highlights our transient nature, often in contrast to immortal beings like gods or spirits.

This usage is particularly prevalent in discussions about the human condition, destiny, and the limitations inherent to being human. It evokes a sense of fragility, ephemerality, and the inevitable end that defines our existence.

A very common expression using this sense is un simple mortel (a mere mortal), which underscores the ordinary, limited nature of humans when compared to extraordinary powers or divine entities. It's often used with a touch of humility or irony.

💡 *Les dieux sont immortels, mais les hommes sont mortels. (Gods are immortal, but humans are mortal.)
*En tant que mortel, il ne pouvait pas comprendre la portée éternelle de leur amour. (As a mortal, he could not grasp the eternal scope of their love.)
*Il n'était qu'un simple mortel face à une force de la nature. (He was just a mere mortal facing a force of nature.)
*La sagesse des mortels est souvent limitée par leur propre finitude. (The wisdom of mortals is often limited by their own finitude.)

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

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

Our list features the most common ways to say “person” in French. But French is rich with 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 personne en ___” followed by a specific Francophone country or region.

You might find some interesting synonyms or related terms for personne 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 people.

And if you’re looking for ways to talk about different kinds of people, or words related to human beings in French, the WordReference entry for personne 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: « Chaque personne est un monde à découvrir. » (Each person is a world to discover.)

9 ways to say "person" in French