French Conversation · Level 85
60 words
French word
requin
Pronunciation
IPA/ʁəkɛ̃/
Meaning
- masculine nounshark
Example
J'ai vu un requin quand j'ai plongé.
I saw a shark when I went diving.
More examples
Des requins ont été repérés près de la plage.
Sharks have been spotted near the beach.
Core concept
A tooth-bearing ocean predator with a flexible cartilage skeleton rather than ordinary bones.
Common phrases
nager avec des requins
swim with sharks
attaque de requin
shark attack
Similar words
poisson: An aquatic animal that swims with fins and breathes through gills.
prédateur: An animal that hunts and eats other animals.
Definition in French
Poisson marin de grande taille, carnivore, au squelette cartilagineux et pourvu de dents tranchantes.
Word origin
Requin is an old French word of uncertain ultimate origin, and no single earlier source is securely established.
Usage tips
- Requin also describes a ruthless or aggressively shrewd person, especially in expressions such as un requin de la finance.