âne
/an/masculine
The French word for donkey is âne.
The word refers to the domestic animal, also known as an ass.
Meaning: a domestic animal (noun)
Which one should you use?
While âne is the standard term, La bourrique is used colloquially to refer to a donkey.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine singular form is âne. The feminine form, meaning a female donkey, is ânesse. To express the plural, use ânes.
How do you pronounce it?
/an/
Did you know?
- The word ânesse, used for a female donkey, sounds remarkably similar to the English word 'ass' but carries no vulgar sexual connotation in French.
- French literature often uses the âne as a symbol of humility and patience, reflecting its role in religious iconography.
- While 'donkey' is the common English term, the Latin root 'asinus' of the French âne is the ancestor of the English word 'asinine'.
Examples in context
- Il vint sur son âne.He came on his donkey.This sentence shows the use of âne to describe a mode of transport.Tatoeba #13692167 by Rovo, translation #13681915 by Aghanim
- Ce n'est pas un cheval, c'est un âne.That isn't a horse. It's a donkey.This sentence uses âne to distinguish the animal from a horse.Tatoeba #7688614 by Maxence, translation #10026695 by CK
- Un âne a donné un coup de pied à Tom.A donkey kicked Tom.This sentence demonstrates the use of âne in a sentence describing an action.Tatoeba #11698035 by Adrien_FR, translation #11697876 by shekitten
- J'ai vu un âne dans la prairie.I saw a donkey in the meadow.
- Le petit ânon est adorable.The baby donkey is adorable.
- Regarde cette bourrique dans le champ!Look at that donkey in the field!
- Dans les contes de fées, l'âne est souvent un personnage drôle et intelligent.In fairy tales, the donkey is often a funny and intelligent character.
- On devrait aller faire une balade avec la bourrique d'à côté.We should go for a ride with the donkey next door.
- 24 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gabriel and Manon are visiting a farm.
- GabrielRegarde, Manon, il y a un petit âne !Look, Manon, there is a little donkey!
- ManonOh, il est vraiment mignon.Oh, he is really cute.
- GabrielEst-ce qu'on peut nourrir l'âne ?Can we feed the donkey?
- ManonJe vais demander au fermier.I will ask the farmer.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “donkey” translations and entries âne, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries âne, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
