French Conversation · Level 18
89 words
French word
baleine
Pronunciation
IPA/balɛn/
Meaning
- feminine nounwhale
Example
Regarde la baleine !
Look at the whale!
More examples
Nous avons vu une baleine au large.
We saw a whale offshore.
Core concept
A huge sea mammal rising to the surface to breathe through its lungs.
Common phrases
une baleine
a whale
voir une baleine
see a whale
une baleine bleue
a blue whale
Similar words
dauphin: A small sea mammal known to travel in groups and sometimes jump.
poisson: A water-dwelling vertebrate that uses gills to breathe.
Definition in French
Mammifère marin de grande taille appartenant aux cétacés, respirant par des poumons et souvent observé à la surface pour reprendre son souffle.
Word origin
French baleine comes through Old French balene from Latin balaena, ultimately from Greek phálaina, a word for a large sea creature.
Usage tips
- Baleine is feminine, so standard phrases use une baleine and cette baleine.
Other meanings
- whalebonenoun