chienne
The English phrase "girl dog" is translated into French as chienne.
The term chienne is used to refer to a female dog. However, you should be aware that in informal contexts, it is frequently used as a vulgar insult directed at women, similar to the English word "bitch".
Which one should you use?
chienne refers specifically to a female dog, whereas chien is used to refer to a male dog.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
In formal settings, you may use the compound phrase chien femelle to indicate the gender of a dog.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun chienne is feminine, so it is used with the feminine indefinite article une.
Did you know?
- In French, the term chienne is used in the phrase vie de chienne to describe a miserable or extremely difficult life. This idiomatic use focuses on hardship rather than the gender of a dog.
- In the specialized world of professional dog breeding, chienne remains the standard and expected term without any offensive connotations.
- While chienne is an insult for a woman, using the masculine chien to describe a person's character or behavior is also a common, though different, way to call someone 'dog-like' or unpleasant.
Examples in context
- Je cherche un chien femelle pour mon élevageI am looking for a female dog for my breeding.
Example conversation
Nathan and Manon are at a dog park.
- NathanC'est ton chien, Manon ?Is that your dog, Manon?
- ManonOui, c'est ma chienne.Yes, she is my girl dog.
- NathanElle est vraiment mignonne !She is really cute!
- ManonMerci, Nathan !Thank you, Nathan!
