French word

cygne

Pronunciation

IPA/siɲ/

Meaning

  • masculine nounswan

Example

Le cygne nage près de la rive.

The swan swims near the shore.

Illustration for cygne (swan)

More examples

J'ai vu un cygne noir au bord du lac.

I saw a black swan by the lake.

Core concept

A graceful long-necked bird floating near the bank while remaining able to fly from the water.

Common phrases

  • un cygne noir

    black swan

  • voir un cygne

    to see a swan

Similar words

oiseau: A feathered, winged animal capable of flight, with many different species.
canard: A medium-sized bird with a bill that lives near water and often swims.
oie: A large waterbird with a bill that commonly lives in groups on land or near water.

Definition in French

Oiseau aquatique de grande taille au cou long, généralement blanc, qui vit au bord des lacs et des rivières et qui sait nager et voler.

Word origin

The French noun cygne preserves the Latin form cygnus, ultimately derived from the Greek word κύκνος for swan.

Usage tips

  • The letters gn in cygne represent the /ɲ/ sound, as in many French words such as montagne.

Word lists with this word