skipper
skipper
noun SKEE-pehr Rare
Origin: Dutch schipper, from schip (ship)
Also means
boat captain
Usage Note
Skipper in French refers specifically to the captain or helm of a sailing vessel, especially in racing contexts (le skipper du Vendée Globe). It is not typically used for airline or sports team captains, where capitaine is preferred. The word is fully assimilated into French sailing vocabulary.
Examples
"Le skipper a guidé le voilier jusqu'au port."
Natural Translation
The skipper guided the sailboat to the harbour.

Free starter pack
Building your French vocabulary?
Get the 100 most common French words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.
Related Words
Explore French by topic
FrenchNow
5 min read