French Conversation · Level 188
15 words
French word
trompe
Pronunciation
IPA/tʁɔ̃p/
Meaning
- feminine nountrunk
Example
L'éléphant utilise sa trompe pour boire.
The elephant uses its trunk to drink.
More examples
Le bébé éléphant joue avec sa trompe.
The baby elephant plays with its trunk.
Core concept
A flexible muscular trunk extending from an elephant's face, acting as both a hand and a tube for grasping, drinking, and smelling.
Common phrases
une trompe d'éléphant
an elephant's trunk
tenir par la trompe
hold by the trunk
Similar words
nez: The facial organ that takes in air and senses odors.
Definition in French
Appendice nasal allongé et préhensile de l'éléphant, composé de muscles et de peau, utilisé pour saisir, boire et sentir.
Word origin
French trompe comes through Old French from a Germanic word for a trumpet; the elephant sense developed from the trunk's tubular shape and trumpet-like function.
Usage tips
- Trompe is feminine, so the standard forms are la trompe and sa trompe regardless of the elephant's sex.
Other meanings
- hornnoun
Related words
- trompédeceivedadjective
- tromperiedeceptionnoun