French word

bec

Pronunciation

IPA/bɛk/

Meaning

  • masculine nounbeak

Example

Le canard a un bec jaune.

The duck has a yellow beak.

Illustration for bec (beak)

More examples

On verse l'eau par le bec de la bouteille.

We pour the water through the bottle spout.

Core concept

A rigid pointed extension that serves as a working end on a bird or an object.

Common phrases

  • bec de bouteille

    bottle spout

  • bec d'oiseau

    bird's beak

Similar words

bouche: The opening used to take in food and produce sound.
museau: The projecting part of an animal's face that joins the nose and mouth.

Definition in French

Partie effilée et rigide de la tête d'un oiseau servant à se nourrir; mot également utilisé pour l'extrémité ou l'embout d'un instrument.

Word origin

French bec is an Old French word from a Germanic source, corresponding historically to English beak.

Usage tips

  • Ferme ton bec is a blunt, familiar command meaning to stop talking and can sound insulting.

Other meanings

  • spoutnoun
  • tipnoun

Related words

  • bécoterkissverb
  • bécotkissnoun

Word lists with this word