French word

empereur

Pronunciation

IPA/ɑ̃pəʁœʁ/

Meaning

  • masculine nounemperor

Example

L'empereur a parlé au peuple.

The emperor spoke to the people.

Illustration for empereur (emperor)

More examples

On a reconnu le courage de l'empereur.

People recognized the emperor's courage.

Core concept

A monarch standing above multiple lands and peoples, with supreme power throughout an empire.

Similar words

roi: A king who holds the throne through inheritance or tradition.
président: An elected public official who represents a country or organization.
monarque: A ruler who serves as head of state under a monarchy.
souverain: A person holding a state's highest governing authority or power.

Definition in French

Souverain qui règne sur un empire et détient l'autorité suprême sur plusieurs territoires.

Word origin

Empereur is an inherited French form of Latin imperator, built from imperare, 'to command', and preserved as the title of an empire's supreme ruler.

Usage tips

  • Empereur usually names an imperial or historical ruler, so roi or président is normally used instead for a king or a modern head of state.

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