French word

vautour

Pronunciation

IPA/votuʁ/

Meaning

  • masculine nounvulture

Example

On a vu un vautour près de la route.

We saw a vulture near the road.

Illustration for vautour (vulture)

More examples

Un fonds vautour a racheté la dette du pays.

A vulture fund bought up the country's debt.

Core concept

A broad-winged bird gliding overhead before descending to feed on a carcass, with the same image extending to a predatory opportunist.

Common phrases

  • un vautour financier

    a vulture financier

  • un fonds vautour

    a vulture fund

Similar words

profiteur: A person who profits from another person's misfortune or weakness.
exploiteur: A person who unfairly exploits others' work or circumstances for profit.
opportuniste: A person who chooses whatever course best serves personal interests.

Definition in French

Grand oiseau de proie charognard qui se nourrit principalement de cadavres.

Word origin

The French noun vautour is inherited through Old French from Latin vultur, the Latin name for this scavenging bird.

Usage tips

  • In figurative use, vautour can condemn a person who seeks profit from another's misfortune and usually sounds contemptuous.

Word lists with this word