French word

tortue

Pronunciation

IPA/tɔʁty/

Meaning

  • feminine nounturtle

Example

La tortue marche lentement.

The turtle walks slowly.

Illustration for tortue (turtle)

More examples

Nous avons une tortue de terre dans le jardin.

We have a land tortoise in the garden.

Core concept

A quiet reptile carrying its rounded bony shelter wherever it goes.

Common phrases

  • tortue de terre

    land tortoise

  • carapace de tortue

    turtle shell

  • petite tortue

    small turtle

Similar words

escargot: A small shelled land animal that moves slowly through damp places.
reptile: A group of animals with backbones whose activity varies with the surrounding temperature.
poisson: A water-dwelling animal that breathes with gills and moves by swimming.
animal: Any living creature that can move, eat, and sustain itself.

Definition in French

Reptile qui porte une carapace osseuse, capable de vivre sur terre et en mer, et se déplaçant en général lentement.

Word origin

The French noun tortue developed from Old French tortue, which derives from Medieval Latin tortuca or turtuca rather than Latin testudo.

Usage tips

  • The phrase lent comme une tortue means very slow, but applying it to a person can sound insulting.

Other meanings

  • tortoisenoun
  • sea turtlenoun

Word lists with this word