French word

dauphin

Pronunciation

IPA/dofɛ̃/

Meaning

  • masculine noundolphin

Example

Les dauphins jouent près du rivage.

The dolphins are playing near the shore.

Illustration for dauphin (dolphin)

More examples

Les dauphins suivent souvent les bateaux.

The dolphins often follow boats.

Core concept

A sleek, sociable sea mammal leaping through coastal water, with the same name later used for France's heir to the throne.

Common phrases

  • un banc de dauphins

    a pod of dolphins

  • observer des dauphins

    observe dolphins

  • un bébé dauphin

    a baby dolphin

Similar words

baleine: A huge marine mammal, with some species traveling long distances.
requin: A predatory fish, with some species having sharp teeth.
phoque: A furry marine mammal that rests on rocks or sandy shores.

Definition in French

Mammifère marin au museau allongé, sociable et joueur; historiquement, titre désignant l'héritier du trône de France.

Word origin

French dauphin comes through Old French from Latin delphinus, while the royal title arose from the name of the Dauphiné region.

Usage tips

  • In dauphin, ph sounds like f and final -in is a nasal vowel, unlike the final syllable of English dolphin.

Other meanings

  • crown princenoun

Word lists with this word