timonier

helmsman

noun tee-mon-YEH Rare

Origin: Old French timon, 'helm, tiller'

Also means

steersman

Usage Note

Timonier is the sailor responsible for steering a ship, operating the timon (tiller) or gouvernail (rudder). In the French navy the timonier is a specific rating. The word is also used metaphorically for a political leader who 'steers' a country, though this is literary.

Examples

"Le timonier corrigea le cap du navire."

Natural Translation

The helmsman corrected the ship's course.

Related Words

Explore French by topic

FrenchNow

The Bonjour Rule: French Etiquette for Visitors

Always say bonjour before you ask, order, or pay in France — the unspoken rule that opens every door. A respectful visitor's guide to French etiquette.

June 4, 2026 6 min read

FrenchNow

Sorry in French: Désolé vs Pardon vs Excusez-moi

Use désolé for genuine regret, pardon to bump or squeeze past, and excusez-moi to get attention. A situation-by-situation guide to saying sorry in French.

June 4, 2026 5 min read

FrenchNow

En, Au, Aux: French Prepositions for Countries

Use en for feminine countries, au for masculine, aux for plural, and à for cities. Full French preposition rule for countries, with a lookup table and traps.

June 4, 2026 5 min read

FrenchNow

French Noun Gender: Rules to Guess Right 80%

Guess French noun gender right 80% of the time using word endings: -age, -ment, -eau are masculine; -tion, -té, -ette are feminine. A high-yield system.

June 3, 2026 5 min read