French word

lapin

Pronunciation

IPA/lapɛ̃/

Meaning

  • masculine nounrabbit

Example

J'ai vu un lapin dans le jardin.

I saw a rabbit in the garden.

Illustration for lapin (rabbit)

More examples

J'ai acheté un lapin de compagnie au marché.

I bought a pet rabbit at the market.

Core concept

A compact long-eared animal that may hop across a garden or become the main ingredient of a dish.

Common phrases

  • un lapin de compagnie

    pet rabbit

Similar words

lièvre: A larger, long-eared mammal that lives in the wild and runs or hops on long legs.

Definition in French

Petit mammifère, domestique ou sauvage, reconnu pour ses longues oreilles et sa capacité à bondir; le terme désigne aussi la viande lorsqu'il est question de cuisine.

Word origin

Medieval French records contain lapin, an animal term of uncertain ultimate origin; French later extended the noun to the animal's meat in food contexts.

Usage tips

  • The final n in lapin is not pronounced separately, and the ending has the nasal vowel heard in words such as matin.

Related words

  • lapinefemale rabbitnoun

Word lists with this word