French Conversation · Level 137
30 words
French word
cerf
Pronunciation
IPA/sɛʁ/
Meaning
- masculine nounstag
Example
Nous avons vu un cerf dans la forêt.
We saw a stag in the forest.
More examples
Des cerfs sauvages ont traversé la clairière.
Wild stags crossed the clearing.
Core concept
An adult male deer standing in woodland with large branching antlers.
Common phrases
des cerfs sauvages
wild stags
un cerf adulte
an adult stag
le cri du cerf
the stag's call
Similar words
biche: An adult female deer found in the forest.
faon: A very young deer, shortly after birth.
Definition in French
Mammifère ruminant de la famille des cervidés, mâle adulte généralement pourvu de bois ramifiés.
Word origin
The French noun cerf descends from Latin cervus through Old French, while its modern spelling preserves a final consonant that is silent in pronunciation.
Usage tips
- Cerf is masculine, while the adult female and the young have different nouns, biche and faon.