French Conversation · Level 6
87 words
French word
castor
Pronunciation
IPA/kastɔʁ/
Meaning
- masculine nounbeaver
Example
Le castor construit un barrage.
The beaver builds a dam.
More examples
On voit souvent des castors près des rivières.
Beavers are often seen near rivers.
Core concept
A large semiaquatic rodent using its front teeth and timber to reshape a stream and build a dam.
Common phrases
un barrage de castors
a beaver dam
une colonie de castors
a beaver colony
Similar words
souris: A tiny, long-tailed animal commonly seen around houses and farmland.
rat: A somewhat large rodent that often lives near buildings or in sewers.
écureuil: A small tree-dwelling animal that quickly gathers and stores nuts.
Definition in French
Rongeur semi-aquatique vivant près des rivières, célèbre pour abattre des arbres et construire des barrages qui modifient le cours de l'eau.
Word origin
French castor continues the old Latin word castor, which itself came from the Ancient Greek name kastōr for this animal.
Usage tips
- The final r in castor is pronounced in French, giving approximately /kas.tɔʁ/, while the plural ending in des castors is silent.