ratel
masculine
The English phrase "honey badger" is translated into French as ratel. Wiktionary also lists zorille du Cap.
Meaning: Mellivora capensis (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | Note |
|---|---|
| ratel | masculine |
| zorille du Cap | masculine |
The term refers to the animal *Mellivora capensis*.
Which one should you use?
ratel is the most common name used for the animal, whereas zorille du Cap is a more descriptive and formal biological name.
How does it change in a sentence?
Both ratel and zorille du Cap are masculine nouns.
Did you know?
- The word ratel is not actually French in origin, but was borrowed from the Afrikaans word ratel, which comes from the Khoekhoe language.
- The word cap in zorille du Cap is a doublet of the French word chef, as both originate from the Latin word caput meaning 'head'.
- In French, the term zorille refers to a group of animals including both the honey badger and the striped skunk, though they are distinct species.
Examples in context
- Le ratel est un animal féroce.The honey badger is a fierce animal.
- J'ai appris beaucoup de choses intéressantes sur le ratel .I learned many interesting things about the honey badger.
- Le blaireau à miel est connu pour sa ténacité.The honey badger is known for its tenacity.
- le ratel est un animal courageux.The honey badger is a courageous animal.
- J'ai vu un ratel au zoo.I saw a honey badger at the zoo.
- Le ratel vit en Afrique.The honey badger lives in Africa.
Example conversation
Hugo and Emma are at the zoo.
- HugoRegarde, Emma, c'est un ratel !Look, Emma, it's a honey badger!
- EmmaIl a l'air vraiment agressif.He looks really aggressive.
- HugoC'est typique du ratel.That's typical of the honey badger.
- EmmaC'est fascinant à observer.It's fascinating to watch.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “honey badger” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cap, du, CC BY-SA 4.0.
