gaufre
/ɡofʁ/masculine
The English word 'gopher' can be translated into French as gaufre. Wiktionary also lists géomys and gaufre à poche.
Meaning: small burrowing rodent (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| gaufre | /ɡofʁ/ | masculine |
| géomys | /ʒe.ɔ.mis/ | masculine |
| gaufre à poche | masculine |
The term refers to a small burrowing rodent.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In parts of Canada where French is spoken, such as Quebec, a gopher is sometimes called le gondin.
How do you pronounce it?
/ɡofʁ/
Did you know?
- The word gaufre shares a common ancestor with the English word 'waffle'. Both words trace back to a Germanic root meaning 'to weave' or 'to braid'.
- If you use the term gaufre to describe the animal in North America, you are actually using a metaphor for its home. The name refers to the honeycomb-like appearance of the rodent's many burrows.
Example sentences for French are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Nathan and Léa are walking in a park.
- NathanLéa, regarde ! C'est un gaufre ?Léa, look! Is that a gopher?
- LéaOui, il est très mignon.Yes, he is very cute.
- NathanIl creuse très vite.He digs very quickly.
- LéaC'est typique pour un gaufre.That's typical for a gopher.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “gopher” translations and entries gaufre, géomys, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries gaufre, géomys, poche, à, CC BY-SA 4.0.
