French word

brebis

Pronunciation

IPA/bʁəbi/

Meaning

  • feminine nounewe

Example

La brebis est dans le pré.

The ewe is in the pasture.

Illustration for brebis (ewe)

More examples

Un troupeau de brebis traverse le chemin.

A flock of ewes crosses the road.

Core concept

A ewe among other sheep, valued for raising lambs and producing wool or milk.

Common phrases

  • un troupeau de brebis

    flock of ewes

  • lait de brebis

    ewe's milk

  • fromage de brebis

    ewe's milk cheese

Similar words

mouton: A general term for a sheep kept as livestock.
bélier: An adult male sheep often used for breeding.
agneau: A sheep that is newborn or still young.

Definition in French

Femelle adulte appartenant à l'espèce des moutons, souvent élevée pour son lait, sa laine ou la reproduction.

Word origin

The French form brebis continues Old French berbiz, which derives from Late Latin berbex.

Usage tips

  • Brebis names the female, whereas bélier names the adult male and agneau names the young sheep.

Opposites

  • bélierramnoun

Word lists with this word