chauffeuse: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal/Historical
Quick answer
What does “chauffeuse” mean?
A female driver, especially one employed to drive a private car.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A female driver, especially one employed to drive a private car.
A low, upholstered armchair without a backrest, often placed near a fireplace. (Now rare; historically, a chair for a chauffeur to sit in while waiting.)
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is equally rare and formal in both varieties. The furniture sense is more likely to be encountered in British antique catalogues.
Connotations
In the driver sense: formal, old-fashioned, potentially suggesting employment in a wealthy household. Neutral to slightly archaic.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in modern usage. 'Driver' or 'female driver' is overwhelmingly preferred.
Grammar
How to Use “chauffeuse” in a Sentence
[The/Our] + chauffeuse + verb (drove, waited, arrived)[Employ/Hire] + a + chauffeuseVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used. 'Corporate driver' or 'executive chauffeur' preferred.
Academic
Might appear in historical or sociological texts discussing domestic service or gender roles in professions.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Using it would likely be seen as affectation.
Technical
Not used in technical contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “chauffeuse”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “chauffeuse”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “chauffeuse”
- Misspelling as 'chaufeuse' or 'chauffer'.
- Using it in modern, casual contexts where 'driver' is appropriate.
- Mispronouncing the final '-euse' as /-juːs/ instead of /-ɜːz/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is extremely rare in contemporary usage. The gender-neutral 'chauffeur' or simply 'driver' are standard.
'Chauffeur' can refer to a male driver or be used generically. 'Chauffeuse' specifically denotes a female driver.
Yes, but this is an archaic meaning for a type of low, backless chair, now only found in historical or antique contexts.
In British English: /ˌʃəʊˈfɜːz/. In American English: /ˌʃoʊˈfɜːrz/. The stress is on the second syllable.
A female driver, especially one employed to drive a private car.
Chauffeuse is usually formal/historical in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to this word.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a FUSE in a car being changed by a female driver – a 'chauff'-FUSE.
Conceptual Metaphor
PROFESSION IS A GENDERED TITLE (cf. actor/actress, waiter/waitress).
Practice
Quiz
In modern English, the word 'chauffeuse' is best described as: