Language/French/Vocabulary/Animals
Hi French learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn French vocabulary about animals. As an intermediate learner, it is important to expand your vocabulary and be able to communicate more effectively. French culture and history are deeply intertwined with its fauna, so let's dive into the animal kingdom! 🦁🐘🐳
Basic vocabulary
Before we start, let's review some basic vocabulary about animals.
| French | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Animal | /a.ni.mal/ | Animal |
As you can see, animal in French is "animal" (pronounced /a.ni.mal/).
Domestic Animals
Let's start with the animals you are probably most familiar with: domestic animals. These animals are bred for companionship or to produce food, such as milk or meat.
Cats and Dogs
Cats and dogs are the most common pets in France.
| French | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Chat | /ʃa/ | Cat |
| Chien | /ʃjɛ̃/ | Dog |
- Person 1: J'aime les chats. (I love cats.)
- Person 2: Moi aussi! J'ai deux chats. (Me too! I have two cats.)
- Person 1: Et tu as un chien aussi? (Do you have a dog too?)
- Person 2: Non, je préfère les chats. (No, I prefer cats.)
Birds
Birds can also be kept as pets in cages.
| French | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Canari | /ka.na.ʁi/ | Canary |
| Perruche | /pɛ.ʁytʃ/ | Parakeet |
- Person 1: Ma sœur a un canari dans sa chambre. (My sister has a canary in her bedroom.)
- Person 2: C'est joli. J'ai une perruche chez moi. (That's nice. I have a parakeet at home.)
Farm Animals
In the countryside, you will find many farm animals. These animals are bred to produce food, such as meat, milk or eggs.
Poultry
Poultry refers to birds that are bred for their meat or eggs.
| French | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Poulet | /pu.lɛ/ | Chicken |
| Coq | /kɔk/ | Rooster |
| Canard | /ka.naʁ/ | Duck |
| Oie | /wa/ | Goose |
- Person 1: Je vais faire une omelette aux œufs de poule. (I'm going to make an omelette with chicken eggs.)
- Person 2: Et si on mangeait du canard à la place? (What if we eat duck instead?)
Cows, Sheep and Pigs
These are some common farm animals.
| French | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Vache | /vaʃ/ | Cow |
| Mouton | /mu.tɔ̃/ | Sheep |
| Cochon | /kɔ.ʃɔ̃/ | Pig |
- Person 1: J'adore le fromage de chèvre. (I love goat cheese.)
- Person 2: Moi aussi. Je préfère ça au fromage de vache. (Me too. I prefer it to cow cheese.)
Wild Animals
France is also known for its wildlife. The following animals are often seen in the French wilderness.
Big cats
In the zoo or in the wild, you might encounter one of these big cats.
| French | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Lion | /li.ɔ̃/ | Lion |
| Tigre | /ti.ɡʁ/ | Tiger |
- Person 1: Wow, regarde ce magnifique lion. (Wow, look at that magnificent lion.)
- Person 2: Oui, c'est impressionnant. Tu as déjà vu un tigre en vrai? (Yes, it's impressive. Have you ever seen a real tiger?)
Marine life
France is a country surrounded by water, so marine life is an important part of its fauna.
| French | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Dauphin | /do.fɛ̃/ | Dolphin |
| Baleine | /ba.lɛn/ | Whale |
- Person 1: Regarde! Des dauphins! (Look! Dolphins!)
- Person 2: Oh c'est trop beau. Tu veux voir des baleines la prochaine fois? (Oh that's so beautiful. Do you want to see whales next time?)
End of the lesson
Well done! You have learned a variety of French vocabulary about animals. To review, visit the Polyglot Club website and find native speakers to practice with. Don't forget to ask them any questions about the material.
➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎