ateur

Atueur is a productive suffix in French used to form agent nouns from verbs in the -er class, and sometimes to name devices or instruments associated with an action. The suffix conveys that someone performs the action of the base verb or that a thing enables or performs that action. It is derived from the Latin -ator, passing through Old French as -ateur, and is commonly attached to verb stems after dropping the -er ending. Feminine forms typically end in -atrice (for example, créateur → créatrice, animateur → animatrice, opérateur → opératrice).

In use, -ateur words denote professions, roles, or agents, but they can also refer to tools or devices that enact the action. Common examples include creer: créateur (creator), réaliser: réalisateur (film director), fabriquer: fabricateur (manufacturer), utiliser: utilisateur (user), opérer: opérateur (operator). Other examples are animateur (host or presenter) and réacteur (reactor). Some words with -ateur are widely familiar in everyday language, while others appear mainly in technical or specialized vocabularies.

The suffix is particularly productive in modern French, especially in industrial, scientific, and cultural contexts. It contrasts with related formations in -eur or -teur, which may derive from adjectives or other word classes. In English, -ateur is less productive, though a handful of loanwords, such as amateur, retain the French spelling. As with many French compound nouns, the gendered form is created by adding -ice/-atrice for feminine forms.