French Conversation · Level 109
60 words
French word
traître
Pronunciation
IPA/tʁɛtʁ/
Meaning
- masculine nountraitor
Example
Quel traître tu es !
What a traitor you are!
More examples
Ils ont découvert un traître dans l'équipe.
They discovered a traitor on the team.
Core concept
A trusted person who turns against the people or cause that relied on them.
Common phrases
être un traître
be a traitor
un traître à sa patrie
a traitor to one's country
un traître parmi nous
a traitor among us
Similar words
infidèle: A person who breaks faith with a romantic partner or spouse by having another relationship.
menteur: A person who deceives others by hiding or falsifying facts.
mouchard: A person who secretly reports others' actions or secrets, harming their allies.
Definition in French
Personne qui abandonne ou trompe ceux qui lui faisaient confiance en agissant contre leurs intérêts.
Word origin
French traître comes through Old French from Latin traditor, an agent noun of tradere meaning 'to hand over'.
Usage tips
- Traître is masculine, while the feminine form is traîtresse; both can describe betrayal of people or a cause.