French word

ours

Pronunciation

IPA/uʁs/

Meaning

  • masculine nounbear

Example

Il y a un ours près du sentier.

There is a bear near the trail.

Illustration for ours (bear)

More examples

Mon fils dort avec un ours en peluche.

My son sleeps with a teddy bear.

Core concept

A heavy, thick-furred animal uses strong paws to travel through wooded or mountainous habitats and find varied food.

Common phrases

  • un ours en peluche

    teddy bear

  • un ours brun

    brown bear

  • un ours polaire

    polar bear

Similar words

peluche: A soft, stuffed bear made for children to cuddle or display.
nounours: A child's affectionate name for a teddy bear.
ours polaire: A large bear with white fur that lives in the cold northern regions.

Definition in French

Animal mammifère de grande stature, à pattes puissantes et fourrure épaisse, vivant surtout en milieu forestier ou montagnard.

Word origin

The French noun ours developed from Latin ursus, with its modern form shaped by changes in medieval French.

Usage tips

  • The final s in ours is pronounced in the singular, as in /uʁs/, unlike the usually silent final s in many French nouns.

Related words

  • oursonbear cubnoun
  • oursefemale bearnoun

Word lists with this word