French word

renard

Pronunciation

IPA/ʁənaʁ/

Meaning

  • masculine nounfox

Example

Hier soir, j'ai entendu un renard près de la ferme.

Last night, I heard a fox near the farm.

Illustration for renard (fox)

More examples

J'ai vu un renard roux au bord du bois.

I saw a red fox at the edge of the woods.

Core concept

A nocturnal fox probing field margins and farm surroundings for small prey and discarded food.

Common phrases

  • un renard roux

    a red fox

  • voir un renard

    see a fox

  • une peau de renard

    a fox pelt

Similar words

chien: A domesticated canine commonly kept by people as a companion or working animal.
loup: A large wild canine that lives in the wilderness and may howl.
renardeau: A young fox, especially one still dependent on its mother.

Definition in French

Petit canidé surtout nocturne, omnivore, vivant en lisière de forêt, dans les champs et parfois près des habitations.

Word origin

The common noun renard developed from the proper name Renart, used for the fox in the medieval Roman de Renart; goupil later declined in use.

Usage tips

  • The final d is silent: renard is pronounced roughly reh-nar, not reh-nard.

Related words

  • renardeaufox cubnoun

Word lists with this word