French Conversation · Level 8
90 words
French word
pigeon
Pronunciation
IPA/piʒɔ̃/
Meaning
- masculine nounpigeon
Example
Le pigeon mange des miettes par terre.
The pigeon eats crumbs off the ground.
More examples
Un groupe de pigeons s'est posé sur la fontaine.
A group of pigeons landed on the fountain.
Core concept
A gray, flocking street bird, with the same word extended to an easy mark.
Common phrases
nourrir les pigeons
feed the pigeons
un groupe de pigeons
a group of pigeons
les pigeons de la place
the pigeons in the square
Similar words
oiseau: A general term for flying animals with feathers, including garden and woodland species.
colombe: A white or pale, rounded bird often treated as a symbol of peace.
Definition in French
Oiseau de taille moyenne souvent vu en ville; au sens familier, personne qui se laisse facilement duper.
Word origin
The noun pigeon passed into French from Old French pigeon, ultimately from Latin pipio, meaning a young bird; the human sense is a later metaphor.
Usage tips
- The figurative sense is familiar and can sound insulting, so context matters when pigeon refers to a person.
Other meanings
- suckernoun