French word

immigrant

Pronunciation

IPA/imigʁɑ̃/

Meaning

  • masculine nounimmigrant

Example

De nombreux immigrants travaillent dans cette ville.

Many immigrants work in this city.

Illustration for immigrant (immigrant)

More examples

La communauté d'immigrants organise un festival culturel.

The immigrant community organizes a cultural festival.

Core concept

A traveler with papers and belongings crossing a border and starting everyday life in a new country.

Common phrases

  • immigrant illégal

    illegal immigrant

  • communauté d'immigrants

    immigrant community

  • immigrants récents

    recent immigrants

Similar words

migrant: A person who moves across borders or regions to live elsewhere.
réfugié: A person who flees persecution or war and seeks protection in another country.
sans-papiers: A person living without official permission to reside or work in a country.

Definition in French

Personne originaire d'un autre pays qui s'installe temporairement ou définitivement dans un nouveau pays.

Word origin

The French noun immigrant derives from Latin immigrans, the present participle of immigrare, built from in- ('into') and migrare ('to move').

Usage tips

  • French uses un immigrant and une immigrante, so the noun and any accompanying adjective change with the person's gender.

Opposites

  • émigréemigrantnoun
  • autochtoneindigenous personnoun

Related words

Word lists with this word