Étranger

Étranger is a French term that can function as a noun or an adjective. As a noun, l'étranger (masculine) or l'étrangère (feminine) refers to a person who is from another country or someone whom one does not know. As an adjective, étrangères or étranger describe things related to foreign countries or unfamiliarity, as in un pays étranger or une situation étrangère. In everyday use, the sense can shift between “foreigner” and “stranger” depending on context.

Etymology and forms. The word derives from Old French estrange, itself from Latin extrānus meaning external or foreign. The modern forms include l'étranger, l'étrangère, les étrangers (masculine plural) and les étrangères (feminine plural). The term also appears in phrases such as être étranger à quelque chose, meaning to be unfamiliar with or ignorant of something.

Cultural and literary usage. The capitalized form L'Étranger refers to Albert Camus’s 1942 novel The Stranger, originally published in French as L'Étranger. The work, a cornerstone of existentialist and absurdist literature, centers on Meursault and themes of alienation, meaning, and social norms. The title has been translated as The Stranger and has inspired various adaptations, including film interpretations.

Other usage. In contemporary French, étranger commonly denotes a non-national living in a country or someone encountered but not known personally. In immigration and legal contexts, the term is used to distinguish non-citizens from nationals, though modern discourse often prefers more precise terms depending on status and context.

See also. Stranger, foreigner, L'Étranger.