French word

pou

Pronunciation

IPA/pu/

Meaning

  • masculine nounlouse

Example

J'ai trouvé un pou sur mon pull.

I found a louse on my sweater.

Illustration for pou (louse)

More examples

Les enfants ont des poux après le camp.

The children have lice after camp.

Core concept

A small blood-feeding insect that moves among hair or body fur without wings.

Common phrases

  • avoir des poux

    have lice

  • trouver un pou

    find a louse

Similar words

puce: A small blood-feeding insect that jumps while living on animals or people.
tique: A small blood-feeding parasite that attaches to grass or an animal's skin.
parasite: An organism that lives on another living thing and obtains nourishment from it.

Definition in French

Désigne un petit insecte sans ailes qui vit sur les poils ou les cheveux et suce le sang de son hôte.

Word origin

French pou developed from Old French pou, which traces back to the Latin noun pediculus for "louse."

Usage tips

  • The plural poux is pronounced like the singular pou, although its spelling adds a silent x.

Related words

  • épouillerdelouseverb
  • épouillagedelousingnoun

Word lists with this word