empereur

emperor

noun ahm-peh-RUHR Less Common

Origin: Latin imperator (commander, ruler)

Usage Note

Empereur is the masculine form; the feminine is impératrice (empress). France had two famous emperors: Napoléon I and Napoléon III. The corresponding realm is empire (masculine), and the adjective impérial describes things relating to an emperor. The title is used in both historical and fantasy/science-fiction contexts.

Examples

"L'empereur a signé le décret."

Natural Translation

The emperor signed the decree.

Related Words

Explore French by topic

FrenchNow

The Bonjour Rule: French Etiquette for Visitors

Always say bonjour before you ask, order, or pay in France — the unspoken rule that opens every door. A respectful visitor's guide to French etiquette.

June 4, 2026 6 min read

FrenchNow

Avoir or Être? Picking the Right Past-Tense Helper

Use avoir for the passé composé unless the verb is reflexive or one of ~16 DR MRS VANDERTRAMP motion verbs, which take être and force agreement.

June 4, 2026 5 min read

FrenchNow

En, Au, Aux: French Prepositions for Countries

Use en for feminine countries, au for masculine, aux for plural, and à for cities. Full French preposition rule for countries, with a lookup table and traps.

June 4, 2026 5 min read

FrenchNow

French False Friends: 25 Faux Amis to Avoid

French false friends look like English words but mean something else: actuellement is not actually, sensible means sensitive. Here are 25 faux amis to avoid.

June 3, 2026 5 min read