nounnounadjective

l’étranger

foreign · stranger · foreigner

C'est une personne qui vient d'un autre pays ou d'un autre endroit.

The French word "étranger" can function as both an adjective and a noun, with related but distinct meanings:

As an adjective:

"étranger" means "foreign" or "strange."
It describes something or someone that comes from another country or is unfamiliar. Example: "un pays étranger" (a foreign country), "une langue étrangère" (a foreign language).

As a noun:

"un étranger" (masculine) or "une étrangère" (feminine) means "a foreigner," that is, a person from another country. Example: "Il est un étranger en France." (He is a foreigner in France.)

Synonyms and differences:

"étranger" vs. "étrange":
- "étranger" primarily relates to foreign origin or otherness linked to nationality or place.
- "étrange" means "strange" or "odd" and refers to something unusual, not necessarily foreign.
"autre" vs. "étranger":
- "autre" means "other" or "another," expressing difference without suggesting foreignness.
"alien" (borrowed in specific contexts) - rare and formal, mostly in legal or science fiction uses.

In summary, "étranger" emphasizes the idea of being from a different country or unfamiliar area, whether as a person or an adjective describing things linked to foreignness.