French word

psychiatre

Pronunciation

IPA/psikjatʁ/

Meaning

  • noun (m./f.)psychiatrist

Example

J'ai pris rendez-vous avec un psychiatre.

I made an appointment with a psychiatrist.

Illustration for psychiatre (psychiatrist)

More examples

Je suis suivi par un psychiatre depuis l'année dernière.

I have been under the care of a psychiatrist since last year.

Core concept

A specialist who approaches troubled thoughts and behavior as medical conditions, using prescriptions, psychotherapy, or both.

Common phrases

  • être suivi par un psychiatre

    be under the care of a psychiatrist

  • avoir besoin d'un psychiatre

    need a psychiatrist

Similar words

psy: A casual short form for a psychiatrist, often used in everyday speech.
psychologue: A specialist who helps with psychological difficulties through interviews, testing, and counseling.

Definition in French

Médecin spécialiste des maladies mentales et des troubles du comportement intervenant par traitements pharmacologiques ou par psychothérapies.

Word origin

Psychiatre uses the Greek elements psych- from psukhē, 'mind', and -iatre from iatros, 'healer', following the pattern of learned medical vocabulary.

Usage tips

  • In informal French, psy can refer to a psychiatre or a psychologue, so the shorter word is less precise.

Related words

Word lists with this word