French Conversation · Level 10
88 words
French word
gladiateur
Pronunciation
IPA/gladjatœʁ/
Meaning
- masculine noungladiator
Example
Le gladiateur salue la foule avant le combat.
The gladiator greets the crowd before the fight.
More examples
Il se sent comme un gladiateur quand il doit défendre son équipe.
He feels like a gladiator when he has to defend his team.
Core concept
A Roman spectacle fighter whose combat is staged for an audience in an arena.
Similar words
combattant: A person who takes part in a conflict or fight.
guerrier: A warrior who fights with weapons in battle.
Definition in French
Personne qui, pour le divertissement du public dans la Rome antique, prenait part à des combats organisés dans une arène.
Word origin
Gladiateur is a learned borrowing from Latin gladiator, the agent noun associated with gladius, or 'sword'.
Usage tips
- For a female participant, French uses gladiatrice, while gladiateur normally refers to a man.