French word

mitrailleur

Pronunciation

IPA/mitʁajœʁ/

Meaning

  • masculine nounmachine gunner

Example

Le mitrailleur surveille la colline.

The machine gunner watches over the hill.

Illustration for mitrailleur (machine gunner)

More examples

Le mitrailleur répare sa mitrailleuse.

The machine gunner repairs his machine gun.

Core concept

A gunner using a mounted automatic weapon to cover advancing soldiers with continuous fire.

Similar words

soldat: A military service member who takes part in combat and training.
tireur: A person who aims and fires a gun or rifle.
mitrailleuse: A heavy automatic weapon that fires bullets continuously.
tireur d'élite: A specialist who accurately shoots distant targets.

Definition in French

Personne qui manœuvre une mitrailleuse et assure un tir soutenu pour appuyer des soldats.

Word origin

The noun combines the weapon name mitrailleuse with the productive French agent ending -eur for a person who performs an action.

Usage tips

  • The related verb mitrailler can describe firing repeatedly and, figuratively, bombarding someone with questions or taking many photos in quick succession.

Related words

  • mitrailleusemachine gunnoun

Word lists with this word