French word

mouche

Pronunciation

IPA/muʃ/

Meaning

  • feminine nounfly

Example

Une mouche tourne autour de la lampe.

A fly circles around the lamp.

Illustration for mouche (fly)

More examples

Il y a une mouche dans la soupe.

There is a fly in the soup.

Core concept

A tiny flying insect repeatedly circling a lamp or food before stopping on something nearby.

Common phrases

  • une mouche domestique

    a housefly

  • attraper une mouche

    catch a fly

Similar words

insecte: A broad term for small animals with six legs, often having wings.
moustique: A small flying insect that may pierce skin and feed on blood.
abeille: A hairy flying insect that collects flower nectar and produces honey.
guêpe: A slender-bodied flying insect that may become aggressive and sting.

Definition in French

Petit insecte volant de l'ordre des diptères, commun dans les maisons et souvent attiré par la lumière ou les denrées.

Word origin

Mouche descends from Latin musca through Old French mosche and is related to Spanish mosca and Italian mosca.

Usage tips

  • The final -che in mouche sounds like the sh in English ship, not like ch in English chip.

Other meanings

  • beauty marknoun

Related words

  • moucherblow one's noseverb
  • moucherongnatnoun
  • mouchetéspottedadjective

Word lists with this word