fauve
/fov/masculine
The English phrase "big cat" can be translated into French as fauve or félin.
Meaning: any large feline animal (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| fauve | /fov/ | masculine |
| félin | /fe.lɛ̃/ | masculine |
Both terms refer to large feline animals. Fauve is typically used to describe wild, predatory big cats, whereas félin serves as a more general term for any feline.
Which one should you use?
Fauve is often used in a more literary or biological context to refer specifically to wild, predatory big cats. In contrast, félin is a more general term used for any feline.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the masculine noun fauve plural, add an 's' to get fauves. To make the masculine noun félin plural, add an 's' to get félins.
How do you pronounce it?
/fov/
Did you know?
- While félin is a scientific term, the word fauve is frequently used in French art history to describe the 'Fauvism' movement. This style is characterized by its use of bold, wild-looking colors, much like the 'tawny' meaning of the word.
- The word fauve actually describes a color rather than a species. It originally meant 'tawny' or 'pale', and it was only after people used the phrase bête au pelage fauve to describe wild animals that the word itself became a noun for the animals.
- If you describe someone as being fauve, you are not calling them a cat, but rather implying they are 'savage' or 'fierce'. This metaphorical use of the word stems from the predatory nature of the animals it describes.
Examples in context
- Le lion est un fauve.The lion is a big cat.
- Le lion est un fauve impressionnant.The lion is an impressive big cat.
- Il a vu un fauve dans la savane.He saw a big cat in the savanna.
Example conversation
At a zoo while looking at a tiger enclosure.
- HugoRegarde ce fauve, il est magnifique !Look at this big cat, it is magnificent!
- EmmaOui, il est vraiment imposant.Yes, it is truly imposing.
- HugoEst-ce qu'il est dangereux ?Is he dangerous?
- EmmaOui, il faut rester derrière la vitre.Yes, we must stay behind the glass.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “big cat” translations and entries fauve, félin, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries fauve, félin, CC BY-SA 4.0.
