clapier
/kla.pje/masculine
The French word for hutch is clapier.
The term refers to a cage or coop used to house small animals.
Meaning: cage or coop for small animals (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some French-speaking regions of Canada (Quebec), the term vitrine can be used to refer to a hutch with glass doors.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /kla.pje/. It has two syllables.
Did you know?
- In Old French, the word clapier did not refer to a cage for animals, but was actually a slang term for a brothel.
- If you call a room a clapier in a metaphorical sense, you are describing it as a crowded or messy living space.
Examples in context
- Le lapin est dans son clapier.The rabbit is in its hutch.
- Il faut nettoyer le clapier régulièrement.You must clean the hutch regularly.
- Le vieux clapier est en bois.The old hutch is made of wood.
Example conversation
Lucas and Manon are in the garden looking at a pet rabbit.
- LucasEst-ce que le lapin est dans le clapier ?Is the rabbit in the hutch?
- ManonOui, Lucas, il dort à l'intérieur.Yes, Lucas, he is sleeping inside.
- LucasLe clapier semble très confortable.The hutch looks very comfortable.
- ManonC'est vrai, il l'adore.That's true, he loves it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hutch” translations and entries clapier, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries clapier, CC BY-SA 4.0.
