French word

éléphant

Pronunciation

IPA/elefɑ̃/

Meaning

  • masculine nounelephant

Example

J'ai vu un éléphant au zoo.

I saw an elephant at the zoo.

Illustration for éléphant (elephant)

More examples

La trompe d'un éléphant sert à attraper la nourriture.

An elephant's trunk is used to grab food.

Core concept

A massive plant-eating animal recognized at once by its flexible trunk and powerful body.

Common phrases

  • un éléphant sauvage

    a wild elephant

  • la trompe d'un éléphant

    an elephant's trunk

  • un éléphant adulte

    an adult elephant

Similar words

girafe: A tall, spotted plant-eater with a long neck that feeds on high tree leaves.
rhinocéros: A strong, large plant-eater with thick skin and a horn above its nose.
hippopotame: A large, round-bodied animal that mainly lives near water and often stays submerged.
zoo: A public facility where many kinds of animals are displayed.

Definition in French

Mammifère herbivore de grande taille, vivant souvent en troupeaux en Afrique ou en Asie et reconnaissable à sa trompe.

Word origin

French éléphant traces back to Greek elephas through the Latin form elephantus.

Usage tips

  • The final consonants are silent, so éléphant and éléphants are normally pronounced alike.

Related words

  • éléphanteauelephant calfnoun

Word lists with this word