French Conversation · Level 56
75 words
French word
citoyen
Pronunciation
IPA/sitwajɛ̃/
Meaning
- masculine nouncitizen
Example
Les citoyens votent demain.
Citizens will vote tomorrow.
More examples
Un citoyen actif participe à la vie locale.
An engaged citizen takes part in local life.
Core concept
A voter taking part in a public decision as a member of the civic community.
Common phrases
citoyen actif
engaged citizen
droits et devoirs du citoyen
a citizen's rights and duties
Similar words
électeur: A person entitled to vote in an election.
concitoyen: A fellow citizen living in the same country or town.
habitant: A person who lives in a particular place.
Definition in French
Personne qui appartient à une communauté politique et qui bénéficie de droits civiques, notamment le droit de vote.
Word origin
French citoyen developed from Old French citeien, a form related to cité and ultimately to the Latin roots civis and civitas.
Usage tips
- Citoyen refers to civic membership, whereas habitant or résident describes someone who simply lives in a place.