equipe
C1Formal
Definition
Meaning
A team of people, especially one assembled for a specific project, competition, or professional purpose.
A group of people working together with specialized roles, often implying coordination and shared objectives. In extended use, can refer to the personnel, vehicles, and equipment collectively representing an organization in a particular field (e.g., a racing team).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often carries connotations of professional coordination, structured collaboration, and a shared mission. More formal than 'team' and can imply a specific, often skilled, assembly for a task.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The word is a direct loan from French. In British English, it is sometimes used, particularly in formal, journalistic, or sporting contexts (e.g., motor racing). In American English, it is very rare and would be considered an affectation; 'team' or 'crew' is strongly preferred.
Connotations
In BrE, it can sound sophisticated, international, or technical. In AmE, it sounds foreign and pretentious in most contexts.
Frequency
Low frequency in BrE, very low to negligible in AmE. Most common in contexts influenced by French or international organizations.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The [ADJECTIVE] equipe for [ORGANIZATION/PROJECT]An equipe of [PROFESSIONALS]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in multinational or European business contexts to refer to a dedicated project team, e.g., 'The Paris-based equipe will handle the merger.'
Academic
Rare; may appear in sociology or management studies discussing European organizational structures.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation in English-speaking countries.
Technical
Seen in specific technical fields like motorsport journalism (e.g., 'The Ferrari equipe prepared the car.') or occasionally in military/adventure contexts describing a support team.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The French racing equipe arrived at the circuit with three cars.
- A small medical equipe was dispatched to the region.
- The director assembled a hand-picked equipe of consultants to tackle the crisis.
- Success hinged on the seamless coordination of the technical equipe back at headquarters.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of an EQUIPE as an EQually-skilled team, Prepared for Excellence. It sounds like 'a keep' – a team you keep together for an important task.
Conceptual Metaphor
TEAM IS A MACHINE / CREW (implying specialized, interlocking parts working in unison).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with Russian 'экипаж' (ekipazh) which primarily means 'crew' (of a ship/plane). 'Equipe' is broader. Avoid using it as a direct translation for the common Russian 'команда' (komanda); use 'team' instead.
Common Mistakes
- Using it in general conversation where 'team' is perfectly adequate.
- Mispronouncing it as /ˈɛkwɪp/ (like 'equip').
- Using it as a verb (to equipe).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'equipe' MOST likely to be encountered in English?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency loanword from French. In most situations, native English speakers use 'team', 'crew', or 'squad'.
It is strongly discouraged. It will sound very foreign and potentially pretentious. Always use 'team' in American English contexts.
It is pronounced /eɪˈkiːp/ (ay-KEEP), not like the English word 'equip'.
For recognition purposes when reading specialised texts (e.g., international journalism, motorsport) and for precise use in very formal or European-specific contexts where the French connotation is deliberate.