poisson rouge
/pwa.sɔ̃ ʁuʒ/masculine
The English word goldfish is poisson rouge in French. Wiktionary also lists carassin doré.
Meaning: fish (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| poisson rouge | /pwa.sɔ̃ ʁuʒ/ | masculine |
| carassin doré | masculine |
The term poisson rouge is a masculine noun used to refer to the goldfish.
What does it mean word for word?
The term poisson rouge literally translates to 'red fish'.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the phrase plural, both the noun and the adjective must take an 's', resulting in poissons rouges. Similarly, if using the phrase petit poisson rouge, the plural form is petits poissons rouges.
Did you know?
- If a French speaker refers to a poisson rouge in a metaphorical sense, they might be jokingly referring to someone with a very short memory, similar to the English myth about goldfish.
- The word poisson comes from the Latin piscem, which is the same root used in the English word 'pisces' for the zodiac sign.
- The adjective doré used in carassin doré does not just mean 'gold' as a color, but specifically 'gilded' or 'covered in gold'.
Examples in context
- Je nourris le poisson rouge.I'm feeding the goldfish.This sentence is useful for practicing the verb with poisson rouge.Tatoeba #572311 by sacredceltic, translation #18548 by CK
- Le poisson rouge est vivant.The goldfish is alive.This sentence is useful for describing the state of the poisson rouge.Tatoeba #1102108 by sacredceltic, translation #680149 by Source_VOA
- J'ai une mémoire de poisson rouge.I have a memory like a goldfish.This sentence shows a common idiomatic use of poisson rouge.Tatoeba #389044 by sysko, translation #381105 by gordeldier
- J'adore les petits poissons rouges avec des queues évasées.I love goldfish with fan tails.
- Oui, j'ai un petit poisson rouge. Il est très mignon!Yes, I have a goldfish. It's very cute!
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gabriel and Léa are looking at a pet shop window.
- GabrielRegarde ce joli poisson rouge, Léa !Look at this pretty goldfish, Léa!
- LéaIl est vraiment mignon, Gabriel.It is really cute, Gabriel.
- GabrielOn peut lui acheter un bocal ?Can we buy him a bowl?
- LéaOui, il serait parfait pour toi.Yes, he would be perfect for you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “goldfish” translations and entries poisson rouge, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries doré, poisson, poisson rouge, rouge, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
