bête
/bɛt/feminine
The English word beast is translated into French as bête. Wiktionary also lists bête sauvage.
Meaning: non-human animal (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| bête | /bɛt/ /bɛːt/ |
feminine |
| bête sauvage | feminine |
bête refers to a non-human animal. While animal is a neutral biological term, bête often carries a connotation of being wild, untamed or even monstrous. In informal speech, bête can also be used to describe someone or something impressive.
Which one should you use?
The form bête sauvage specifically refers to a wild beast. While bête can be a general term for an animal, it often implies a sense of being untamed compared to the neutral term animal.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun bête is feminine, so it is used with the feminine article une bête.
How do you pronounce it?
/bɛt/
Did you know?
- While an English speaker might use 'beast' to mean a large creature, calling someone une bête in French can actually mean they are 'stupid' or 'foolish'.
- The word sauvage in bête sauvage has its roots in the Latin word silva, meaning 'forest'.
- If you describe something as bête et méchant, you are using a common idiom to say something is 'stupid and mean', often used for trivial or unnecessary things.
Examples in context
- Sale bête, fiche le camp !You filthy beast, get out of here!This sentence uses bête to address a creature insultingly.Tatoeba #11406251 by lbdx, translation #4224597 by Spheniscine
- Une étrange bête erre à travers les bois.A strange beast is roaming through the woods.This sentence uses bête to describe a creature in the woods.Tatoeba #5373772 by Scorpionvenin14, translation #5373768 by Hybrid
- La bête est en vie, réveillée et affamée.The beast is alive, awake and hungry.This sentence uses bête to describe a creature that is awake and hungry.Tatoeba #9009566 by Aiji, translation #3302537 by AlanF_US
- Cette bête est considérée comme le roi de la jungleThis beast is considered the king of the jungle
- J'ai trouvé une petite bestiole dans mon jardinI found a little beast in my garden
- Cet athlète est un vrai monstre sur le terrainThis athlete is a real beast on the field
- Ce chanteur est une vraie bête de scèneThis singer is a real beast on stage
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Léa and Gabriel are looking at a small insect in the garden.
- LéaRegarde cette drôle de bête, Gabriel.Look at this strange beast, Gabriel.
- GabrielOù est la bête ?Where is the beast?
- LéaElle est juste là, sur la fleur.It is right there, on the flower.
- GabrielAh oui, elle est minuscule !Ah yes, it is tiny!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “beast” translations and entries bête, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bête, sauvage, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
