corbeau noir
The English phrase "black crow" is translated into French as corbeau noir.
The phrase refers to a bird of the crow family characterized by its black feathers.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun corbeau is masculine. Therefore, when using the definite article "the", you use le corbeau noir. For the indefinite article "a", use un corbeau noir. To express the plural "black crows", the noun takes an -x ending and the adjective takes an -s, resulting in les corbeaux noirs.
Did you know?
- In French folklore, the corbeau is often used as a synonym for a malicious gossip or a person who reveals secrets to authorities, similar to the English term 'snitch'.
- While corbeau translates to 'crow', it is also the standard French word for a 'raven', meaning the same word covers both species in everyday conversation.
- In French, the adjective noir is a doublet of the word nègre, meaning they both stem from the same Latin root 'nigrum'.
Examples in context
- Le corbeau noir était perché sur une branche de l'arbre.The black crow was perched on a tree branch.
- La corneille noire croassait dans le ciel.The black crow was cawing in the sky.
- Regardez ce corbeau tout noir sur le toit de la maison!Look at that all-black crow on the rooftop!
- J'ai vu un corbeau noir comme la nuit dans le cimetière.I saw a black crow as dark as the night in the cemetery.
- Le corbeau noir s'est posé sur la branche.The black crow perched on the branch.
- Je vois un corbeau noir sur la branche.I see a black crow on the branch.
- Il y a un corbeau noir dans le ciel.There is a black crow in the sky.
Example conversation
Emma and Hugo are walking in a park.
- EmmaHugo, regarde le corbeau noir là-bas !Hugo, look at the black crow over there!
- HugoOh, il est vraiment impressionnant.Oh, it is really impressive.
- EmmaJe me demande s'il est seul.I wonder if it is alone.
- HugoPeut-être, mais ce corbeau noir a l'air fier.Maybe, but this black crow looks proud.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries corbeau, noir, CC BY-SA 4.0.
