French word

psy

Pronunciation

IPA/psi/

Meaning

  • noun (m./f.)psychologist

Example

Mon psy m'aide à gérer mon stress.

My psychologist helps me manage my stress.

Illustration for psy (psychologist)

More examples

J'ai pris rendez-vous avec un psy la semaine dernière.

I made an appointment with a psychologist last week.

Core concept

A person who listens to troubled thoughts and helps find ways to handle them.

Common phrases

  • aller voir un psy

    go see a psychologist

  • prendre rendez-vous avec un psy

    make an appointment with a psychologist

Similar words

psychologue: A mental health professional who offers support through interviews, therapy, and psychological tests.
psychiatre: A medical doctor who diagnoses mental disorders, prescribes medication, and oversees treatment.
psychothérapeute: A specialist who uses psychotherapy to treat emotional problems and support recovery.

Definition in French

Mot familier, forme abrégée de «psychologue», employé pour parler de son thérapeute ou d'un professionnel de la santé mentale, sans précision formelle sur le statut médical.

Word origin

Psy is a colloquial shortening of psychologue, while psych- ultimately comes from the Ancient Greek psykhē, meaning soul or mind.

Usage tips

  • Psy is informal and broad, so formal contexts may require psychologue or psychiatre to identify the professional precisely.

Other meanings

  • psychiatristnoun
  • psychotherapistnoun

Related words

Word lists with this word