girafe
/ʒi.ʁaf/feminine
The English word giraffe is translated into French as girafe. If unsure, use girafe. Wiktionary also lists chameaupard.
Meaning: mammal (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| girafe | /ʒi.ʁaf/ | feminine |
| chameaupard | archaic, masculine, obsolete |
The word refers to the long-necked mammal. It is a feminine noun.
Which one should you use?
girafe is the standard term, while chameaupard is an archaic and obsolete masculine form.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word girafe is used for both the singular and the plural forms.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʒi.ʁaf/
Did you know?
- The obsolete word chameaupard is a portmanteau of chameau meaning 'camel' and léopard.
- The French word girafe is derived from the Arabic word zurāfa.
- In French, girafe is always a feminine noun, even when referring to a male animal.
Examples in context
- Où est la girafe ?Where is the giraffe?This is useful for asking about the location of the girafe.Tatoeba #12393233 by FaustaJunilla, translation #2042292 by JarHead54321
- Je vois une girafe.I see a giraffe.This is useful for stating that you see a girafe.Tatoeba #7204973 by Micsmithel, translation #1841662 by CK
- La girafe est morte.The giraffe died.This is useful for describing the death of a girafe.Tatoeba #11837553 by Amastan, translation #8546620 by Amastan
- J'ai vu une girafe au zooI saw a giraffe at the zoo
- Les girafes sont de beaux animauxGiraffes are beautiful animals
- 22 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chloé and Hugo are visiting a zoo.
- ChloéRegarde cette girafe !Look at that giraffe!
- HugoElle est vraiment grande.She is really tall.
- ChloéLa girafe mange des feuilles.The giraffe is eating leaves.
- HugoC'est un animal magnifique.It is a magnificent animal.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “giraffe” translations and entries girafe, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries girafe, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
