French · Body & Health

"Nurse" in French: infirmier / infirmière

l'infirmier / l'infirmière

Say it: an-feer-MYAY / an-feer-MYAIRnoun/ɛ̃.fiʁ.mje/ /ɛ̃.fiʁ.mjɛʁ/

Nurse in French is l'infirmier for a man and l'infirmière for a woman. In hospitals you may also hear le personnel soignant for care staff in general.

Hospital stay

L'infirmière passe toutes les heures.
The nurse comes by every hour.
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How to pronounce infirmier / infirmière

Say it

an-feer-MYAY / an-feer-MYAIR

/ɛ̃.fiʁ.mje/ /ɛ̃.fiʁ.mjɛʁ/

Infirmier: an-feer-MYAY. Infirmière: an-feer-MYAIR. Nasal in-; stress the end.

"Nurse" in French: quick reference

FrenchEnglish
l'infirmier / l'infirmièrenurse

Main professional titles.

une infirmièrea (female) nurse

Common spoken form.

un infirmiera (male) nurse

Masculine.

l'aide-soignant(e)nursing assistant

Related role.

How to use infirmier / infirmière in real life

  1. 1Hospital stay

    L'infirmière passe toutes les heures.

    The nurse comes by every hour.

    Passer = come by.

  2. 2Career talk

    Mon frère est infirmier en pédiatrie.

    My brother is a pediatric nurse.

    Infirmier masculine.

  3. 3Calling for help

    Tu peux appeler l'infirmière, s'il te plaît ?

    Can you call the nurse, please?

    Space before ?

Mistakes English speakers make with infirmier / infirmière

Incorrect: La nurse.

Correct: L'infirmière / l'infirmier.

Nurse is not the French job title here.

Incorrect: Elle est un infirmier.

Correct: Elle est infirmière.

Use the feminine form; no article after être for jobs.

Good to know

Infirmiers / infirmières are central to hospital care; patients often know them by first name on the ward. For home care, people mention une infirmière à domicile.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

In a hospital room

  1. ChatPal

    L'infirmière arrive avec les médicaments.

    The nurse is coming with the medicine.

  2. You

    Merci. L'infirmier de ce matin était gentil aussi.

    Thanks. This morning's nurse was kind too.

  3. ChatPal

    Tu as mal encore ?

    Are you still in pain?

  4. You

    Un peu moins, ça va.

    A bit less; I'm OK.

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"Nurse" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Nurse" in French

Masculine and feminine?

Infirmier / infirmière.

How do I say she is a nurse?

Elle est infirmière.

Is nurse used in French?

Not for this job; use infirmier/infirmière.

Pronunciation?

An-feer-MYAY / an-feer-MYAIR.

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