French word

berger

Pronunciation

IPA/bɛʁʒe/

Meaning

  • masculine nounshepherd

Example

Le berger guide son troupeau.

The shepherd guides his flock.

Illustration for berger (shepherd)

More examples

Le berger faisait paître ses moutons dans la vallée.

The shepherd was grazing his sheep in the valley.

Core concept

A person walking with a flock, watching the sheep and guiding their movement.

Common phrases

  • berger de moutons

    shepherd of sheep

  • berger et son chien

    shepherd and his dog

Similar words

bergère: A woman who cares for and guides a flock of sheep.
éleveur: A person who raises livestock for breeding or sale.

Definition in French

Personne qui élève, garde et dirige des moutons.

Word origin

Berger comes from Old French bergier, ultimately from Late Latin berbicarius, meaning a person who tends sheep.

Usage tips

  • Berger is masculine, so the usual forms are un berger and le berger; the feminine form is bergère.

Related words

  • bergèreshepherdessnoun
  • bergeriesheepfoldnoun

Word lists with this word