respirateur

ventilator

noun res-pee-ra-TUR Rare

Also means

respirator

Usage Note

Respirateur in a medical context refers to a mechanical ventilator that breathes for a patient; it also covers protective face respirators (respirateur à gaz). The related verb is respirer ('to breathe') and the noun la respiration means 'breathing'. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the word became widely known in French news coverage.

Examples

"Le patient est sous respirateur depuis hier."

Natural Translation

The patient has been on a ventilator since yesterday.

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