dodo
/do.do/masculine
The English term for the extinct bird Raphus cucullatus is dodo in French. Wiktionary also lists dronte.
Meaning: Raphus cucullatus (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| dodo | /do.do/ | masculine |
| dronte | /dʁɔ̃t/ | masculine |
The word dodo refers to the flightless bird that is now extinct. It is a masculine noun, so it is used with the masculine article le.
Which one should you use?
dodo is the common name for the bird, whereas dronte is a more technical or scientific term used in French.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of dodo is /do.do/. It has 2 syllables.
Did you know?
- In French, the word dodo is also a common term used by parents to refer to 'sleep' when talking to children. This playful reduplication of the verb dormir makes the word feel much more cuddly than the extinct bird.
- The etymology of the bird's name is debated, with some linguists suggesting it may have originated from the Portuguese word doudo, meaning 'mad' or 'crazy'.
Examples in context
- Le dodo est une espèce disparue.The dodo is an extinct animal.This sentence is useful for noting that the dodo is an extinct species.Tatoeba #14020912 by zogwarg, translation #14016226 by araneo
- Le dodo est une espèce déjà éteinte.The dodo is an already extinct species.Tatoeba #12805893 by lbdx, translation #1248757 by alec
- Si on n'y prête pas attention, le tigre va bientôt suivre le même chemin que le dodo.If we're not careful, the tiger will soon go the way of the dodo.This sentence is useful for using the dodo as a metaphor for something that will soon go extinct.Tatoeba #919183 by sacredceltic, translation #910527 by darinmex
- Je vais faire dodoI'm going to sleep
- Je suis épuisé, j'ai besoin de faire dodo.I'm exhausted, I need to go to sleep.
Example conversation
Léa and Lucas are looking at a picture book about extinct animals.
- LéaRegarde Lucas, c'est un dodo !Look Lucas, it's a dodo!
- LucasIl est vraiment bizarre, ce dodo.This dodo is really strange.
- LéaOui, le dodo vivait seulement à Maurice.Yes, the dodo lived only in Mauritius.
- LucasC'est triste que le dodo ait disparu.It's sad that the dodo disappeared.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dodo” translations and entries dodo, dronte, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dodo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
