French word

célibataire

Pronunciation

IPA/selibatɛʁ/

Meaning

  • adjectivesingle

Example

Je suis célibataire.

I am single.

Illustration for célibataire (single)

More examples

Elle est célibataire depuis trois ans.

She has been single for three years.

Core concept

A person outside the legal state of marriage, whether or not a romantic relationship exists.

Common phrases

  • être célibataire

    be single

  • rester célibataire

    remain single

  • un homme célibataire

    a single man

Similar words

marié: Legally married.
divorcé: Previously married but now legally divorced.
pacsé: Legally partnered under a civil solidarity pact.
veuf: Widowed after the death of a spouse.

Definition in French

Désigne une personne qui n'a pas contracté de mariage, c'est-à-dire qui n'est pas marié(e).

Word origin

French célibataire comes through Latin caelibatus, meaning the state of being unmarried, from Latin caelebs, meaning unmarried.

Usage tips

  • Célibataire has the same singular form for masculine and feminine nouns and adjectives, as in un célibataire and une célibataire.

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word