gorille
/ɡɔ.ʁij/masculine
The English phrase "gorilla" is gorille in French.
The word gorille is a masculine noun used to refer to the ape.
Meaning: ape (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
To form the plural gorilles, add an 's' to the end of the word.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables and is pronounced /ɡɔ.ʁij/.
Did you know?
- In French, if you were describing a 'gorilla warfare' tactic, you would actually use the term guérilla, which is spelled differently and has a different pronunciation.
- In French slang, the word gorille can be used to describe a brutish, aggressive man or a hired thug who relies on physical strength rather than intelligence.
- The word gorille is a learned borrowing from New Latin 'Gorilla', which originally came from the Ancient Greek word Γόριλλαι.
Examples in context
- Gare au gorille.Beware of the gorilla.This sentence is useful for learning how to give a warning about a gorille.Tatoeba #2617248 by Prophete, translation #2617249 by Prophete
- Un reporter est en train d'interviewer Docteur Patterson à propos de Koko, un gorille parlant.A reporter is interviewing Dr. Patterson about Koko, a talking gorilla.This sentence is useful for discussing a reporter interviewing someone about a gorille.Tatoeba #9318 by Petro1, translation #20200 by mccarras
- J'ai récemment visité un zoo où j'ai observé un magnifique gorille .I recently visited a zoo where I observed a magnificent gorilla.
- Le gorille est très imposant.The gorilla is very imposing.
Example conversation
Gabriel and Léa are at the zoo.
- GabrielRegarde ce gorille, il est énorme !Look at that gorilla, he is huge!
- LéaOui, il a l'air très fort.Yes, he looks very strong.
- GabrielC'est mon animal préféré ici.It is my favorite animal here.
- LéaMoi aussi, j'adore le gorille.Me too, I love the gorilla.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “gorilla” translations and entries gorille, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries gorille, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
