French word

mante

Pronunciation

IPA/mɑ̃t/

Meaning

  • feminine nounpraying mantis

Example

J'ai vu une mante dans le jardin.

I saw a praying mantis in the garden.

Illustration for mante (praying mantis)

More examples

Il a attrapé une mante avec un bocal.

He caught a mantis with a jar.

Core concept

A slender insect waiting with its long front legs folded together like praying hands.

Common phrases

  • attraper une mante

    catch a mantis

Similar words

mante religieuse: The formal term for a predatory insect known for holding its forelegs in a prayer-like pose.
insecte: A small animal with six legs, often winged, commonly found in gardens and fields.

Definition in French

Insecte au thorax allongé dont les pattes antérieures repliées évoquent une posture de prière et permettent d'attraper des insectes.

Word origin

French mante comes through Latin mantis from Greek mantis, meaning a seer or prophet, while mante religieuse refers to its prayer-like folded forelegs.

Usage tips

  • Mante is a feminine noun, so the usual article is une mante.

Word lists with this word