houx
/u/masculine
In French, holly is houx.
The term refers to any of the various shrubs or small trees belonging to the genus Ilex.
Meaning: any of various shrubs or small trees of the genus Ilex (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
houx is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/u/
Did you know?
- In French folklore, houx was historically believed to protect a house from lightning and witchcraft.
- The word houx is inherited from the Frankish word *hulis, making it a linguistic relative of the German word Hülse.
- In the French tradition of 'le houx de Noël', the plant is seen as a symbol of immortality because it stays green through the harshest winters.
Examples in context
- Il y avait du gui et du houx partout.There was mistletoe and holly everywhere.This sentence shows the use of houx alongside mistletoe.Tatoeba #12272057 by lbdx, translation #12141813 by CK
- Le houx est un arbuste très résistant.The holly is a very resistant shrub.
Example conversation
Emma and Nathan are decorating their living room for the holidays.
- EmmaOù as-tu acheté ce houx ?Where did you buy this holly?
- NathanJe l'ai pris au marché ce matin.I got it at the market this morning.
- EmmaIl est magnifique pour la couronne.It is beautiful for the wreath.
- NathanOui, Nathan aime beaucoup this couleur.Yes, Nathan likes this color a lot.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “holly” translations and entries houx, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries houx, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
