Conseillère

Conseillère is the feminine form of the French noun conseiller. It denotes a woman who provides counsel or guidance, or a woman who holds a position as a member of a council, such as a municipal or regional councilor. The masculine counterpart is conseiller.

Etymology and form: the word derives from Old French conseiller, from Latin consiliarius, related to consilium or conseil, meaning advice or council. The feminine form conseillère is formed by adapting the masculine stem with the feminine suffix -ière, in agreement with the gender of the person.

Usage in politics and public life: in many Francophone countries, a conseillère municipale or conseillère régionale is an elected official who sits on a local or regional council. The term signals the gender of the officeholder. In other contexts, conseillère can refer to a professional adviser within a public body or government, for example a conseillère juridique or conseillère en orientation.

Professional and social contexts: outside politics, conseillère is widely used for female advisers and consultants in business, finance, human resources, management, or social services. Examples include conseillère financière, conseillère en ressources humaines, or conseillère conjugale. The feminine form is chosen to reflect the gender of the person providing advice or holding the office.

See also: the masculine form conseiller, the noun conseil, and related titles such as conseiller municipal or conseillère d’orientation. The term is a standard gendered noun in French and is used across formal and professional registers.