French word

pingouin

Pronunciation

IPA/pɛ̃gwɛ̃/

Meaning

  • masculine nounauk

Example

J'ai vu un pingouin sur les rochers.

I saw an auk on the rocks.

Illustration for pingouin (auk)

More examples

On peut voir des pingouins en colonie au printemps.

Penguins can be seen in colonies in spring.

Core concept

A small cold-sea diver that catches food underwater but still takes flight.

Common phrases

  • voir un pingouin

    see a penguin

  • une colonie de pingouins

    a colony of penguins

Similar words

manchot: A flightless seabird that swims well and mainly lives in Southern Hemisphere seas.
macareux: A small seabird with a colorful bill that dives for fish and carries them in its bill.

Definition in French

Petit oiseau marin des alcidés qui se nourrit en plongeant, vit dans des mers froides et conserve la capacité de voler, et qui porte couramment le nom de pingouin en français.

Word origin

French pingouin was borrowed from English penguin, while Pinguinus is the Latinized scientific form associated with northern alcids.

Usage tips

  • French uses manchot for a penguin that cannot fly, while pingouin normally names a flying northern alcid.

Word lists with this word