French word

voleur

Pronunciation

IPA/volœʁ/

Meaning

  • masculine nounthief

Example

Le voleur a pris mon sac.

The thief took my bag.

Illustration for voleur (thief)

More examples

Le voleur a été condamné.

The thief was convicted.

Core concept

A person quietly carrying away another person's belongings for personal gain.

Common phrases

  • attraper un voleur

    catch a thief

  • un voleur à l'étalage

    shoplifter

  • un voleur de voiture

    car thief

Similar words

cambrioleur: A person who breaks into buildings to steal valuables.
pickpocket: A person who secretly steals items from pockets or bags in public places.

Definition in French

Individu qui s'empare clandestinement d'objets appartenant à autrui, souvent pour en tirer un avantage matériel.

Word origin

Voleur is an agent noun formed from Old French voler, 'to steal,' with the suffix -eur for a person who performs an action.

Usage tips

  • Voleur is masculine, so the usual form is un voleur; the feminine form is une voleuse.

Other meanings

  • pickpocketnoun

Related words

  • volerstealverb
  • voleusefemale thiefnoun

Word lists with this word