French word

compère

Pronunciation

IPA/kɔ̃pɛʁ/

Meaning

  • masculine nouncompanion

Example

Il est mon compère depuis l'école.

He has been my companion since school.

Illustration for compère (companion)

More examples

Il fait un spectacle avec son compère.

He puts on a show with his partner.

Core concept

The person at someone's side who helps carry out a shared role or plan.

Similar words

partenaire: A person who collaborates with someone in work or other activities.
compagnon: A close companion who shares activities or everyday life.
complice: A companion who shares secrets or joins in pranks and mischief.
pote: An informal word for a friend or casual buddy.

Definition in French

Désigne une personne qui accompagne ou collabore avec quelqu'un, par exemple un partenaire de scène ou un complice.

Word origin

The modern partner sense of compère grew in French from the older Medieval Latin relationship term compater through Old French compaire.

Usage tips

  • Compère is familiar in register; partenaire or collègue fits a neutral formal context when no sense of complicity is intended.

Other meanings

  • accomplicenoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word