blaireau
/blɛ.ʁo/masculine
The English word badger is translated into French as blaireau.
The term refers to the kind of mammal known as a badger.
Meaning: a kind of mammal (noun)
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /blɛ.ʁo/. It has two syllables.
Did you know?
- The word blaireau also refers to a traditional shaving brush made of badger hair.
- In modern French slang, blaireau is a common insult used to describe someone who is socially awkward, foolish or a 'bore'.
- The word blaireau was once a diminutive of 'blé', meaning 'corn', suggesting the animal was named for its diet of grain.
Examples in context
- Ça, c'est le blaireau.That's the badger!This sentence is useful for identifying a specific badger.Tatoeba #741039 by Julien_PDC, translation #739693 by Vortarulo
- Lorsque son équipe favorite remporta la victoire, il brandit son fanion en sautillant et glapit comme un blaireau.When his favorite team had a victory, he waved his pennant while jumping up and down and yelped like a badger.This sentence describes a person's behavior while celebrating a victory by comparing them to a blaireau.Tatoeba #1966599 by gillux, translation #6840053 by Eccles17
- J'ai vu un blaireau dans la forêtI saw a badger in the forest
- Le blaireau est un animal nocturne.The badger is a nocturnal animal.
Example conversation
Léa and Lucas are watching a nature documentary.
- LéaRegarde ce blaireau dans la forêt !Look at that badger in the forest!
- LucasIl est vraiment impressionnant, ce blaireau.That badger is truly impressive.
- LéaEst-ce qu'il est dangereux ?Is it dangerous?
- LucasPas vraiment, mais il faut le laisser tranquille.Not really, but one should leave him alone.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “badger” translations and entries blaireau, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries blaireau, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
