-eur masculine nouns

French nouns ending in eur often come from English words ending in er or or. This happens when the words are for jobs, machines, or people who do something. French takes the English word and changes the ending to match its own way of spelling and saying things. The gender is almost always masculine. Here is a list of common ones.

  • un acteur (an actor)
  • un administrateur (an administrator)
  • un animateur (a host, an animator)
  • un aspirateur (a vacuum cleaner)
  • un auditeur (a listener, an auditor)
  • un calculateur (a calculator)
  • un compositeur (a composer)
  • un conducteur (a driver)
  • un connecteur (a connector)
  • un conservateur (a conservative, a curator)
  • un coordinateur (a coordinator)
  • un correcteur (a corrector, a proofreader)
  • un cultivateur (a grower, a farmer)
  • un danseur (a dancer)
  • un décorateur (a decorator)
  • un démonstrateur (a demonstrator)
  • un destructeur (a destroyer)
  • un détecteur (a detector)
  • un directeur (a director, a manager)
  • un distributeur (a distributor, a vending machine)
  • un documentaire (a documentary)
  • un éditeur (an editor, a publisher)
  • un éducateur (an educator)
  • un électeur (a voter)
  • un évaporateur (an evaporator)
  • un exportateur (an exporter)
  • un extracteur (an extractor)
  • un facteur (a mail carrier, a factor)
  • un générateur (a generator)
  • un gladiateur (a gladiator)
  • un imperméable (a raincoat, not from an agent noun)
  • un importateur (an importer)
  • un imprimante (a printer, this one is feminine)
  • un indicateur (an indicator, an informer)
  • un inducteur (an inductor)
  • un inspecteur (an inspector)
  • un instructeur (an instructor)
  • un interacteur (an interactor)
  • un interrupteur (a switch, a circuit breaker)
  • un interview (an interview, not an eur word)
  • un inventeur (an inventor)
  • un investigateur (an investigator)
  • un lecteur (a reader, a player)
  • un livreur (a delivery person)
  • un localisateur (a locator)
  • un magnétoscope (a VCR, not an eur word)
  • un masseur (a masseur)
  • un modérateur (a moderator)
  • un moniteur (a monitor, an instructor)
  • un moteur (a motor, an engine)
  • un navigateur (a browser, a navigator)
  • un observateur (an observer)
  • un opérateur (an operator)
  • un ordinateur (a computer)
  • un organisateur (an organizer)
  • un oscillateur (an oscillator)
  • un peintre (a painter, not from er or or)
  • un photocopieur (a photocopier)
  • un planificateur (a planner)
  • un présentateur (a presenter)
  • un producteur (a producer)
  • un projecteur (a projector)
  • un propagateur (a propagator)
  • un propriétaire (an owner, not from er or or)
  • un protecteur (a protector)
  • un provocateur (a provocateur)
  • un radar (radar, not an eur word)
  • un radiateur (a radiator)
  • un réalisateur (a director, a filmmaker)
  • un récepteur (a receiver)
  • un rédacteur (a writer, an editor)
  • un réfrigérateur (a refrigerator)
  • un régulateur (a regulator)
  • un relais (a relay, not an eur word)
  • un répétiteur (a tutor, a repeater)
  • un représentant (a representative, not an eur word)
  • un résisteur (a resistor)
  • un sécheur (a dryer)
  • un sénateur (a senator)
  • un spectateur (a spectator)
  • un stabilisateur (a stabilizer)
  • un stimulateur (a stimulator)
  • un tracteur (a tractor)
  • un transformateur (a transformer)
  • un translateur (a translator, a converter)
  • un transporteur (a transporter, a carrier)
  • un tuteur (a tutor, a guardian)
  • un utilisateur (a user)
  • un ventilateur (a fan, a vent)
  • un vibrateur (a vibrator)
  • un visiteur (a visitor)

Some of these words have a feminine form too. It is often -euse or -trice. For example:

  • un danseur -> une danseuse (a dancer)
  • un acteur -> une actrice (an actress)
  • un lecteur -> une lectrice (a reader)

A few of these nouns are not for people. They are for machines or things. Examples are un aspirateur, un ordinateur, and un réfrigérateur. They are still masculine.

Summary

French takes English words ending in er or or and makes them into masculine nouns ending in eur. They are for people, machines, and tools. The feminine forms are usually -euse or -trice.

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