How to Say "Dragonfly" in French

libellule

/li.bɛ.lyl/feminine

The English word dragonfly is translated into French as libellule.

The term refers to an insect of the infraorder Anisoptera.

Meaning: insect of the infraorder Anisoptera (noun)

How does it change in a sentence?

The plural of libellule is libellules.

The word has 3 syllables and is pronounced /li.bɛ.lyl/.

While English uses 'dragon' to describe this insect, French uses a term based on the Latin word for a small level or balance, referring to the insect's steady flight.
The term demoiselle for a damselfly literally translates to 'young lady' or 'maiden'.
The French word libellule shares a root with the English word 'libel'. Both come from the Latin libella, meaning a 'small book' or 'little scroll'.

La libellule effleurait l'eau.
The dragonfly was skimming across the water.
This sentence shows how to use libellule when describing an insect skimming water.
Tatoeba #1195383 by sacredceltic, translation #328745 by fcbond
La libellule survole la flaque d'eau.
The dragonfly flies over the puddle.
This sentence demonstrates libellule in the context of an insect flying over a puddle.
Tatoeba #11939153 by lbdx, translation #9828343 by PlaguedPixel
La libellule est un des plus beaux insectes du monde.
The dragonfly is one of the most beautiful insects in the world.
This sentence uses libellule to describe the insect as one of the most beautiful in the world.
Tatoeba #13688521 by Orange, translation #13688523 by Orange
Les libellules sont de magnifiques insectes volants.
Dragonflies are beautiful flying insects.
3 more sentences on Tatoeba

Nathan and Manon are walking in a park near a pond.

Sources

Wiktionary, “dragonfly” translations and entries libellule, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
Word origins: Wiktionary entries libellule, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.

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