French Conversation · Level 146
30 words
French word
griffe
Pronunciation
IPA/gʁif/
Meaning
- feminine nounclaw
Example
Le chat a une griffe cassée.
The cat has one broken claw.
More examples
Après la bagarre, il avait une griffe au bras.
After the fight, he had a scratch on his arm.
Core concept
A hard, hooked claw pressed into a surface, leaving a trace that can identify its source.
Common phrases
une griffe cassée
a broken claw
une griffe sur la main
a scratch on the hand
Similar words
griffure: A scratch or mark made by a claw or thorn.
ongle: The hard covering at the tip of a finger.
serre: A sharp claw used by a bird or wild animal to seize prey.
marque: A mark on a product or work identifying its maker or brand.
Definition in French
Petit ongle recourbé porté par certains animaux, ou la marque laissée quand il gratte ; par extension, signe distinctif d'une maison ou d'une marque.
Word origin
The word griffe is inherited from Old French and developed from the physical claw to the trace left by scratching, then to a maker's or brand's identifying mark.
Usage tips
- A scratch is une griffure, whereas une griffe refers to the claw or to a brand's identifying sign.
Other meanings
- scratch marknoun
- brandnoun
Related words
- grifferscratchverb
- griffurescratchnoun