French word

commandant

Pronunciation

IPA/komɑ̃dɑ̃/

Meaning

  • masculine nouncommander

Example

Le commandant a donné l'ordre.

The commander gave the order.

Illustration for commandant (commander)

More examples

Le commandant a rassuré l'équipage.

The commander reassured the crew.

Core concept

A person at the head of a unit or organization, directing people and issuing orders.

Common phrases

  • commandant de bord

    captain

  • Monsieur le commandant

    Commander, sir

  • commandant de police

    police commander

Similar words

officier: A military or police officer who performs official duties and leads subordinates.
capitaine: A captain who leads a unit or team in the field.
lieutenant: A junior officer who leads a unit under a superior's direction.
chef: A person responsible for directing work in a team or workplace.

Definition in French

Personne chargée de diriger et de donner des ordres, surtout dans un cadre militaire ou organisationnel.

Word origin

Commandant comes from the present participle of French commander, from Old French comander and ultimately Latin commandare.

Usage tips

  • In French, the final t is silent, so commandant is pronounced roughly /kɔ.mɑ̃.dɑ̃/, unlike the usual English pronunciation of commandant.

Opposites

  • subordonnésubordinatenoun

Related words

Word lists with this word