In French, enfant and gamin both refer to young people but are used in distinct contexts and carry different connotations. Enfant is the neutral, universal term for "child," appropriate in all registers and for both genders (enfant can be used for boys and girls). In contrast, gamin is an informal, somewhat affectionate or playful word for "kid," often implying a sense of mischief or street-smart charm; it is most commonly applied to boys, with gamines as the feminine plural form.
- enfant: standard, neutral, used for any child, in all contexts
- gamin: informal, colloquial, usually for boys, suggests playfulness or cheekiness
*enfant* is the appropriate term for 'child' in formal contexts.
*gamin* is an informal term usually for boys and suggests a playful child.
'enfant' is a universal, neutral term for child, used for both genders and in all contexts.
enfant: The Standard Noun for Child
Enfant (m./f.) is the core French word for "child." It is gender-neutral in usage, applying equally to boys and girls, and is suitable in every context—formal, informal, written, and spoken. The plural is enfants, and when referring to your own, you can say mon enfant (my child), mes enfants (my children).
- Used for any child, at any age.
- Suitable for all registers (formal, casual, professional).
- Can also mean "offspring" or "descendant" in broader uses.
Examples of Enfant
- L'enfant joue dans le jardin. — The child is playing in the garden.
- Elle est l'enfant unique de ses parents. — She is her parents' only child.
- Les enfants vont à l'école. — The children go to school.
Enfant is appropriate in nearly all contexts where you refer to a child.
The plural of 'enfant' is 'enfants.'
gamin: The Playful, Informal Kid
Gamin (masculine) and gamine (feminine) are slangy, affectionate terms for "kid," often used to describe a boy (or girl, less commonly) who is lively, cheeky, or street-smart. It's not a word you would typically find in formal writing. Its plural forms are gamins and gamines. The tone can be endearing or slightly irreverent.
- Mostly used for boys (gamin), though gamines applies to girls in plural.
- Implies a mischievous or spirited child, not just any child.
- Used primarily in casual, spoken French.
Examples of Gamin
- Quand il était gamin, il faisait toujours des bêtises. — When he was a kid, he always got into trouble.
- Regarde ces gamins jouer au ballon dans la rue! — Look at those kids playing ball in the street!
- Elle a deux gamines qui courent partout. — She has two lively little girls running around.
'gamin' is informal and should not be used in formal essays.
'gamin' suggests a playful, mischievous spirit and is informal.
'gamine' is singular feminine, and 'gamines' is plural feminine.
Conclusion
Enfant is the standard, all-purpose term for "child" in French, while gamin adds a flavor of playful informality and is best reserved for casual situations, mostly describing boys.
- Use enfant for any child, in any context.
- Reserve gamin for informal speech about lively, mischievous kids.
- Remember gamin is gendered and context-sensitive; enfant is universal.