In 15 Seconds
- Refers to a gauge or a police informant.
- Used in technical, business, or crime-related contexts.
- Do not confuse with a car's turn signal (clignotant).
Meaning
This phrase refers to something belonging to or originating from an 'indicator.' In French, this can mean a technical gauge (like a speedometer) or, more colorfully, a police informant or 'snitch.'
Key Examples
3 of 7Discussing a car's dashboard
L'aiguille de l'indicateur de vitesse est bloquée.
The needle of the speedometer is stuck.
A detective talking to a partner
On a reçu un tuyau de l'indicateur ce matin.
We got a tip from the informant this morning.
Texting a friend about a phone battery
Regarde la couleur de l'indicateur de batterie, c'est rouge !
Look at the color of the battery indicator, it's red!
Cultural Background
The term 'indicateur' gained significant cultural weight through French 'film noir' and crime fiction. It specifically refers to an 'informateur' who works for the police, often in exchange for leniency. In modern times, it has been repurposed for 'indicateurs de performance' (KPIs) in business culture.
The 'Indic' Shortcut
If you want to sound like a local or a character in a movie, just say 'l'indic'. It's the cool, short version of the word for an informant.
Not for Turn Signals!
Don't use 'indicateur' for your car's blinkers. French people will be confused. Use 'le clignotant' instead.
In 15 Seconds
- Refers to a gauge or a police informant.
- Used in technical, business, or crime-related contexts.
- Do not confuse with a car's turn signal (clignotant).
What It Means
Think of de l'indicateur as identifying the source of a signal. It tells you where a piece of information is coming from. If you are in a lab, it refers to a gauge or meter. If you are in a gritty French detective novel, it refers to a secret tip-off from a 'snitch.' It is a versatile phrase that bridges the gap between cold, hard data and the shadowy world of crime. You are essentially saying 'from the gauge' or 'from the informant.'
How To Use It
You will mostly use this phrase by attaching it to a noun. For example, la précision de l'indicateur (the accuracy of the gauge) or le témoignage de l'indicateur (the testimony of the informant). It functions as a possessive or a source marker. In technical settings, it is very straightforward. In social settings, using it to refer to a person adds a layer of drama or suspicion. It is like pointing to a dial or a person and saying, 'That is where the news came from.'
When To Use It
Use it when you are discussing technical readings, like checking your car's dashboard or a machine at work. It is also perfect when you are watching a French 'polar' (crime thriller) and want to talk about the plot. You might use it in a business meeting when discussing a 'Key Performance Indicator' (KPI). It is a solid, mid-level phrase that makes you sound precise and observant. Use it when the source of your data matters.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this phrase if you are talking about a car's turn signal. In French, that is a clignotant. If you call a turn signal an indicateur, people might think you are talking about a mysterious informant hiding in your bumper. Also, avoid using it for a person unless you mean they are a literal police informant. Calling a friend l'indicateur because they told a secret is quite heavy; use rapporteur (tattletale) for something lighter.
Cultural Background
The figure of the indicateur (often shortened to l'indic) is a massive staple of French cinema and literature. From classic 1960s noir films to modern police procedurals, the 'indic' is the morally grey character who helps the police. Culturally, there is a complex relationship with this word. It carries the weight of surveillance and secrecy. On the flip side, in the modern corporate world, indicateur is used constantly for 'indicators' of success, showing how the language has shifted from the streets to the boardroom.
Common Variations
The most common variation you will hear in the streets or in movies is l'indic. It is shorter, punchier, and sounds much cooler. You might also hear indicateur de performance in an office setting. If someone is being a 'snitch' in a less formal way, they might be called a mouchard. If you are talking about a gauge specifically, you might hear cadran (dial) or jauge (gauge) instead, but indicateur remains the most formal technical term.
Usage Notes
This phrase is neutral but shifts to informal/slang when shortened to 'indic' in a crime context. In business or science, it remains strictly professional.
The 'Indic' Shortcut
If you want to sound like a local or a character in a movie, just say 'l'indic'. It's the cool, short version of the word for an informant.
Not for Turn Signals!
Don't use 'indicateur' for your car's blinkers. French people will be confused. Use 'le clignotant' instead.
The 'Mouchard' Nuance
While 'indicateur' is the official term for an informant, 'mouchard' (from 'mouche' or fly) is a more insulting way to call someone a snitch.
Examples
7L'aiguille de l'indicateur de vitesse est bloquée.
The needle of the speedometer is stuck.
Here, it refers to a mechanical gauge.
On a reçu un tuyau de l'indicateur ce matin.
We got a tip from the informant this morning.
Classic crime context referring to a snitch.
Regarde la couleur de l'indicateur de batterie, c'est rouge !
Look at the color of the battery indicator, it's red!
Everyday use for technology.
Nous devons analyser les résultats de l'indicateur de performance.
We need to analyze the results of the performance indicator.
Formal business usage (KPIs).
Alors, tu joues le rôle de l'indicateur maintenant ?
So, you're playing the role of the informant now?
Humorous and slightly sarcastic.
La précision de l'indicateur de pression est remise en question.
The precision of the pressure indicator is being questioned.
Formal scientific context.
Il craignait la vengeance de l'indicateur.
He feared the informant's revenge.
Emotional and dramatic narrative use.
Test Yourself
Choose the correct word to complete the sentence about a car's speed.
Vérifie la position de l'aiguille de l'___ de vitesse.
In a technical context like a speedometer, 'indicateur' is the correct term for the gauge.
Identify the term used for a police snitch in a movie.
Le policier rencontre discrètement son ___.
An 'indicateur' (or 'indic') is the standard term for a police informant.
🎉 Score: /2
Visual Learning Aids
Formality and Context Spectrum
Used in crime movies or street talk for a snitch.
L'indic a parlé.
General technical or everyday tech use.
L'indicateur de batterie.
Business or scientific contexts.
L'indicateur de performance.
Where to find 'L'indicateur'
On a car dashboard
Speedometer readings
In a dark alley
A police informant
In an office
Quarterly KPIs
On a smartphone
Battery or signal bars
Practice Bank
2 exercisesVérifie la position de l'aiguille de l'___ de vitesse.
In a technical context like a speedometer, 'indicateur' is the correct term for the gauge.
Le policier rencontre discrètement son ___.
An 'indicateur' (or 'indic') is the standard term for a police informant.
🎉 Score: /2
Frequently Asked Questions
11 questionsNo, it often refers to a technical gauge or meter, like l'indicateur de niveau d'huile (oil level indicator).
It's informal and associated with the underworld, but it's not a swear word. It's common in crime fiction.
Usually, a weather vane is a girouette, but you might hear indicateur de vent in technical meteorological contexts.
It is called an indicateur clé de performance. Business people use this term constantly.
You would say l'aiguille de l'indicateur. It's a very common phrase for old-school gauges.
Informateur is more neutral and general, while indicateur specifically implies a link to the police or a gauge.
Not really. For a progress bar, use barre de progression. For a cursor, use curseur.
Only if you are talking about a thermometer gauge, like l'indicateur de température du four.
Because the 'indic' is a classic character who provides the plot-twisting information the hero needs.
Using it to mean a 'turn signal' (blinker). Remember: blinker = clignotant.
Yes, an indicateur coloré is a substance that changes color to show pH levels.
Related Phrases
un indic
un informateur
un clignotant
un mouchard
un tableau de bord
