French Conversation · Level 127
45 words
French word
instituteur
Pronunciation
IPA/ɛ̃stitytœʁ/
Meaning
- masculine nounelementary school teacher
Example
L'instituteur explique le travail aux élèves.
The elementary school teacher explains the work to the students.
More examples
Je parle souvent à mon instituteur.
I often talk to my primary school teacher.
Core concept
A classroom teacher helping young children learn foundational knowledge while keeping the class organized.
Common phrases
parler à l'instituteur
talk to the primary school teacher
rencontrer l'instituteur
meet the primary school teacher
Similar words
maître: A familiar spoken term for the person teaching children in primary school.
professeur des écoles: A formal job title for a primary school teacher.
professeur: A teacher working in secondary education or teaching a specialist subject.
enseignant: A general term for a person whose work is teaching pupils or students at school.
Definition in French
Personne qui assure l'enseignement primaire auprès de jeunes élèves.
Word origin
French borrowed instituteur from Latin institutor, a noun for an instructor formed from instituere, meaning 'to establish' or 'to instruct'.
Usage tips
- In contemporary official usage, professeur des écoles is the usual job title, while instituteur remains common in ordinary speech.