grosse araignée
The English phrase "big spider" is translated into French as grosse araignée.
You can also use the playful expression Monstre à huit pattes to refer to a big spider as an "eight-legged monster".
Which one should you use?
There is a nuance between different ways to say "big". grosse araignée emphasizes the bulk or thickness of the spider, whereas grande araignée would emphasize its height or length.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Quebec, Canada, the colloquial term grosse bibitte can be used to refer to a big spider.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective grosse precedes the noun araignée because it is one of the common adjectives that typically comes before the noun in French. Because the phrase is feminine, it must be preceded by the feminine indefinite article une when referring to "a big spider" (une grosse araignée).
Did you know?
- While grosse means 'big', using it to describe a person in French is often an insult, unlike when describing a grosse araignée where it is simply a physical observation.
- The word araignée comes from the Latin arānea, which is closely related to the Latin word for 'web'.
- The adjective grosse is part of a small group of adjectives called 'BAGS' (Beauty, Age, Goodness, Size) that break the standard rule of placing adjectives after the noun.
Examples in context
- Elle s'est figée en voyant la grosse araignée.She froze at the sight of the big spider.This sentence shows a reaction to seeing a grosse araignée.Tatoeba #134530 by nimfeo, translation #315665 by CK
- Vue d'avion, l'île ressemble à une grosse araignée.Seen from an airplane, the island looks like a big spider.This sentence uses grosse araignée to describe the shape of an island seen from above.Tatoeba #353230 by Barbiche0, translation #317975 by mamat
- Ma femme a vu une très grosse araignée au plafond de la cuisine.My wife saw a very big spider on the kitchen ceiling.This sentence describes seeing a grosse araignée on a kitchen ceiling.Tatoeba #4462835 by Amastan, translation #11770650 by tieguy
- L'Amazonie abrite de nombreuses araignées géantes.The Amazon rainforest is home to many big spiders.
- Attention, une grosse araignée se cache derrière toi!Watch out, there's a big spider hiding behind you!
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Manon and Nathan are in the garden.
- ManonRegarde cette grosse araignée sur la feuille !Look at this big spider on the leaf!
- NathanOh non, elle est vraiment énorme.Oh no, it is really huge.
- ManonNe t'approche pas de la grosse araignée, Nathan.Don't go near the big spider, Nathan.
- NathanD'accord, je préfère rester ici.Okay, I prefer to stay here.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries araignée, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
