autrui

French

Etymology

Inherited from Old French autrui, from Vulgar Latin *alterui, alteration (after cui) of Latin alterī, dative singular of alter. Compare lui.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /o.tʁɥi/
  • Audio:(file)
  • Rhymes: -ɥi

Pronoun

autrui m

  1. (chiefly literary) others; other people; someone else
    Il ne faut pas faire mal à autrui.
    One should not do harm to others.
    • 1943, Antoine Saint-Exupéry, chapter X, in Le petit prince [The Little Prince], New York: Reynal & Hitchcock, page 45:
      Il est bien plus difficile de se juger soi-même que de juger autrui.
      It is more difficult to judge oneself than to judge others.
    • 1994, Yasmina Reza, ‘Art’:
      Yvan. Dès l’instant qu’il n’y a pas de préjudice pour autrui
      From the moment there is not prejudice for others

Usage notes

  • In line with its etymology, autrui is only exceptionally used as a subject. It is commonest after prepositions.

Further reading

Old French

Alternative forms

Etymology

From altre, whence French autre.

Pronoun

autrui

  1. others (other people)

See also