French word

oiseau

Pronunciation

IPA/wazo/

Meaning

  • masculine nounbird

Example

L'oiseau chante tôt le matin.

The bird sings early in the morning.

Illustration for oiseau (bird)

More examples

J'ai vu un oiseau sur la branche.

I saw a bird on the branch.

Core concept

A winged, feathered creature moving between a perch, the ground, and the air.

Common phrases

  • un oiseau

    a bird

  • plume d'oiseau

    bird's feather

  • nid d'oiseau

    bird's nest

Similar words

pigeon: A medium-sized bird commonly seen in cities and parks.
poule: A female chicken kept for laying eggs.
canard: A medium-sized bird that lives near water.
mouette: A pale bird that flies in flocks near the sea or harbors.

Definition in French

Désigne un animal à plumes et à ailes, souvent capable de voler.

Word origin

The French noun developed from Old French oisel, which derives from Latin aucellus, a diminutive related to avis.

Usage tips

  • Oiseau and oiseaux are both pronounced roughly /wazo/, so the plural s is silent and does not change the sound.

Related words

  • oisillonchicknoun
  • oisellefemale birdnoun

Word lists with this word