Skip to content

savant

scholar, learned person

noun sah-VAHN Rare

Origin: Latin sapere (to be wise)

Usage Note

Savant has entered English directly (as in 'idiot savant'), but in French it refers broadly to any highly knowledgeable person or scientist. The feminine form is savante. The adjective savant also means 'learned' or 'clever' (e.g., un chien savant — a trained dog).

Examples

"Ce savant a révolutionné la physique."

Natural Translation

This scholar revolutionized physics.

Free starter pack

Building your French vocabulary?

Get the 100 most common French words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.

Explore French by topic