Secrétaires (en. Secretaries)

/se.kʁe.tɛʁ/

Meaning & Definition

EnglishFrench
noun
Person who handles correspondence, appointments, and the organization of an office.
The secretary noted all the meetings scheduled for this week.
Le secrétaire a pris note de toutes les réunions prévues cette semaine.
Civil servant or employee who manages the affairs of an individual or an organization.
Doctors' secretaries are often very overwhelmed.
Les secrétaires des médecins sont souvent très débordées.
Title given to certain individuals in official institutions.
The secretary general presented the annual report.
Le secrétaire général a présenté le rapport annuel.

Etymology

From Latin 'secretarius' meaning 'one who keeps a secret'.

Common Phrases and Expressions

town hall secretariat
Administrative service of a town hall.
secrétariat de mairie
executive secretary
Secretary working for a director.
secrétaire de direction
personal secretary
Personal secretary of an important individual.
secrétaire particulier

Related Words

administrative
Related to the organization and management of affairs.
administratif
correspondence
Exchange of letters or messages.
correspondance
organization
Action of organizing, putting in order.
organisation

Slang Meanings

Secretary in slang, sometimes perceived as a pejorative term.
It is often said that it's just a 'secretary' who only does administrative cleaning.
On dit souvent que c'est juste un 'secrétaire' qui ne fait que du nettoyage administratif.
Secretarial tasks considered simple or of lesser importance.
What's the point of doing all this 'secretary' work when we have better ideas?
À quoi bon faire tout ce travail de 'secrétaire' quand on a de meilleures idées ?