What is the French word for firefighter?

The French word for firefighter is "pompier." This term is widely used in France and other French-speaking regions to refer to individuals who are trained to respond to fires and other emergencies. The word derives from the term "pompe," which means pump, referring to the pumps used in firefighting.

"Sapeur" often refers to a member of a specific branch of the French fire service known as "sapeurs-pompiers," which translates to "firefighters," but by itself, it doesn’t mean firefighter in the same straightforward way that "pompier" does. "Incendie" translates to "fire," which is a related but distinctly different term, while "briquet" means "lighter," and does not pertain to firefighting at all. Thus, "pompier" is the most accurate and commonly recognized term for firefighter in French.