How to Say "Chipmunk" in French

tamia

/ta.mja/masculine

The French word for chipmunk is tamia. Wiktionary also lists suisse.

Meaning: rodent (noun)

Ways to say it

“chipmunk” in French
French	IPA	Note
tamia	/ta.mja/	masculine
suisse	/sɥis/	masculine

The word refers to the small rodent known as a chipmunk.

tamia is the default form, while suisse is another masculine term used for the same animal.

Both tamia and suisse are masculine nouns.

The pronunciation is /ta.mja/ and it has two syllables.

The term suisse for a chipmunk is a nod to the famous Swiss Guard. The animal's facial stripes resemble the distinctive colorful patterns found on the uniforms of these historical soldiers.
The word tamia is used for the chipmunk because the genus name is based on the Greek word for 'steward' or 'treasurer'.
While 'chipmunk' is a common animal in English, the French word tamia sounds almost identical to the scientific name for the genus. This makes it a direct loan from biological terminology rather than a traditional French descriptive word.

Je suis tombé(e) sur un écureuil rayé dans le parc aujourd'hui.
I stumbled upon a chipmunk in the park today.
Les tamias sont souvent plus actifs à l'aube et au crépuscule.
Chipmunks are often more active at dawn and dusk.
Ce tamia mange une noisette.
This chipmunk is eating a hazelnut.
J'ai vu un petit tamia dans le jardin.
I saw a little chipmunk in the garden.
Le tamia est très rapide.
The chipmunk is very fast.

Léa and Nathan are walking in a park.

Léa

Oh, regarde Nathan, un tamia !
Oh, look Nathan, a chipmunk!
Nathan

Il est vraiment mignon.
He is really cute.
Léa

Je veux prendre une photo du tamia.
I want to take a photo of the chipmunk.
Nathan

Dépêche-toi, il s'en va.
Hurry up, he is leaving.

Sources

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