French word

fœtus

Pronunciation

IPA/fetys/

Meaning

  • masculine nounfetus

Example

Le fœtus grandit bien dans l'utérus.

The fetus is growing well in the uterus.

Illustration for fœtus (fetus)

More examples

L'échographie du fœtus a montré qu'il allait bien.

The fetal ultrasound showed that the fetus was doing well.

Core concept

A growing human form seen in the uterus after the earliest embryonic stage and before birth.

Common phrases

  • échographie du fœtus

    fetal ultrasound

  • âge du fœtus

    fetal age

Similar words

bébé: A small baby who has already been born and needs care.
nouveau-né: A baby who was born very recently.

Definition in French

Fœtus est le terme médical pour désigner l'enfant en développement dans l'utérus entre l'embryon et la naissance.

Word origin

French fœtus comes directly from Latin fetus as a learned medical borrowing, so its form remains close to the Latin source.

Usage tips

  • Fœtus belongs mainly to medical and formal usage, while bébé is more usual for a baby in everyday contexts.

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word