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Usage Note
Militaire functions both as an adjective (le service militaire, military service) and as a noun (un militaire, a soldier or serviceperson). The noun is masculine by default but can refer to any rank or gender. Le service militaire was compulsory in France until 1997, so the word carries cultural weight in French society.
Examples
"Mon père était militaire pendant vingt ans."
Natural Translation
My father was in the military for twenty years.
Literal Translation
My father was military during twenty years
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