French Conversation · Level 115
59 words
French word
chauve-souris
Pronunciation
IPA/ʃovsuʁi/
Meaning
- feminine nounbat
Example
La chauve-souris sort la nuit pour chercher de la nourriture.
The bat goes out at night to look for food.
More examples
La chauve-souris utilise l'écholocation pour chasser.
The bat uses echolocation to hunt.
Core concept
A small winged mammal leaving its shelter after dark to find food.
Common phrases
une chauve-souris
a bat
une colonie de chauve-souris
a colony of bats
une grotte de chauve-souris
a bat cave
Similar words
souris: A small animal with a tail, often found in homes or storage buildings.
hibou: A nocturnal bird with large eyes and feathers.
oiseau: A living creature with feathers and a beak; many species can fly.
insecte: A small animal with legs; some species can fly with wings.
Definition in French
Désigne un petit mammifère volant qui se nourrit souvent d'insectes ou de fruits et est actif la nuit.
Word origin
French formed chauve-souris from the words chauve and souris, whose older roots are Latin calvus and sorex respectively.
Usage tips
- The final s of souris is silent in chauve-souris, as it is in the ordinary word souris.