French word

phoque

Pronunciation

IPA/fɔk/

Meaning

  • masculine nounseal

Example

On a vu un phoque sur la plage ce matin.

We saw a seal on the beach this morning.

Illustration for phoque (seal)

More examples

Les pêcheurs ont découvert un phoque blessé près du port.

The fishermen discovered an injured seal near the harbor.

Core concept

A seal swimming with flippers, catching fish, and resting on a coast.

Common phrases

  • un phoque sur la plage

    a seal on the beach

  • une colonie de phoques

    a colony of seals

  • un phoque blessé

    an injured seal

Similar words

otarie: A flippered marine mammal that gathers on rocks or beaches and walks on land.
dauphin: A fast-swimming marine mammal that often travels in groups and may be friendly toward people.
baleine: A very large marine mammal, including species that feed heavily on plankton or small fish.

Definition in French

Terme désignant des mammifères marins caractérisés par des nageoires, une alimentation principalement piscivore et une présence fréquente sur les côtes.

Word origin

French phoque comes from Latin phoca, borrowed from Greek phōkē, so its basic meaning has remained stable since antiquity.

Usage tips

  • Phoque is masculine, so the usual singular form is un phoque, even when referring to a female animal.

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