tanière
/ta.njɛʁ/feminine
The English word 'den' is translated into French as tanière. Wiktionary also lists antre and repaire.
Meaning: home of certain animals (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| tanière | /ta.njɛʁ/ | feminine |
| antre | /ɑ̃tʁ/ | masculine |
| repaire | /ʁə.pɛʁ/ | masculine |
These terms are used to describe the home or habitat of certain animals, or a place where people hide.
Which one should you use?
tanière is the standard term for a natural animal den, like that of a fox or a bear. antre refers to a large, dark or imposing cave or lair and is used in a literary context. repaire is often used figuratively to describe a hideout for people, such as a bandits' den.
How does it change in a sentence?
tanière is a feminine noun. antre and repaire are both masculine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/ta.njɛʁ/
Did you know?
- While repaire describes a den or hideout, it is a linguistic 'doublet' of the word repère, which means a 'landmark' or 'reference point'.
- The term antre is so rare in spoken French that using it in a casual conversation would sound like you are reading from a 19th-century novel.
- If you were describing a thief's hideout, you would use repaire, but if you used tanière, a French speaker might think you are implying the thief is acting like a wild animal.
Examples in context
- Les renards sont dans leur repaire.The foxes are in their den.This sentence shows the use of repaire for foxes.Tatoeba #8750655 by Julien_PDC, translation #9657044 by carlosalberto
- Cette île est un repaire de pirates.This island is a pirates' den.This sentence shows how repaire can describe a place like a pirates' den.Tatoeba #11771597 by lbdx, translation #7919685 by Hybrid
- Deux ours ne peuvent pas vivre dans la même tanière.Two bears cannot live in the same den.This sentence shows the standard use of tanière regarding a bear's den.Tatoeba #11652349 by Aiji, translation #10303215 by AlanF_US
- Les explorateurs ont découvert une ancienne grotte qui serait l'antre de créatures légendaires.The explorers discovered an ancient cave that would be the den of legendary creatures.
- Notre chien adore se cacher dans sa tanière sous l'escalier.Our dog loves hiding in its den under the stairs.
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gabriel and Léa are hiking in the woods.
- GabrielRegarde, je crois que c'est une tanière.Look, I think that is a den.
- LéaC'est peut-être celle d'un blaireau, Gabriel.Maybe it is a badger's den, Gabriel.
- GabrielOn ne doit pas s'approcher de la tanière.We must not go near the den.
- LéaTu as raison, restons sur le chemin.You are right, let's stay on the path.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “den” translations and entries tanière, antre, repaire, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries antre, repaire, tanière, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
