cafard
/ka.faʁ/masculine
The English phrase cockroach is translated into French as cafard. Wiktionary also lists blatte and coquerelle.
Meaning: type of insect (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| cafard | /ka.faʁ/ | masculine |
| blatte | /blat/ | feminine |
| coquerelle | /kɔ.kʁɛl/ | Canada, feminine |
The word cafard refers to a type of insect. It is also used in the idiom avoir le cafard, which means to feel depressed or to have the blues.
Which one should you use?
While both cafard and blatte mean cockroach, cafard is the more common, everyday term used in conversation, whereas blatte is the technical or scientific term used primarily in a biological or entomological context.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Quebec and other parts of Canada, coquerelle is a common term for a cockroach.
How does it change in a sentence?
cafard is a masculine noun, but blatte and coquerelle are feminine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ka.faʁ/ and has 2 syllables.
Did you know?
- The French word cafard originates from the Arabic word kāfir, meaning 'unbeliever'.
- In some older French slang, cafard was used to describe a police informant or a 'snitch'.
- The term coquerelle sounds quite delicate due to its diminutive suffix, which stands in stark contrast to the unpleasant nature of the insect itself.
Examples in context
- Le cafard est sur la table.The cockroach is on the table.This sentence shows the location of the cafard.Tatoeba #8639020 by lbdx, translation #8321505 by Amastan
- Comment as-tu tué le cafard ?How did you kill the cockroach?This sentence asks how someone killed the cafard.Tatoeba #5894706 by Aiji, translation #5143867 by CarpeLanam
- Il y a un cafard sous le lit.There's a cockroach under the bed!This sentence describes a cafard being under a bed.Tatoeba #10579417 by AutoBot, translation #6029159 by Huskion
- Nous devons prendre des mesures pour éliminer les cafards dans notre bureauWe need to take measures to eliminate cockroaches in our office
- Les blattes sont des insectes nuisibles présents dans les régions chaudesCockroaches are harmful insects found in warm regions
- 24 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Manon and Lucas are cleaning the apartment.
- ManonLucas, regarde ! Il y a un cafard ici !Lucas, look! There is a cockroach here!
- LucasOh non, je vais chercher le spray.Oh no, I will go get the spray.
- ManonFais vite, ce cafard me fait peur.Be quick, this cockroach scares me.
- LucasNe t'inquiète pas, je m'en occupe.Don't worry, I'll take care of it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cockroach” translations and entries cafard, blatte, coquerelle, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries blatte, cafard, coquerelle, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
