petit cochon
The French phrase for "little pig" is petit cochon.
petit cochon refers to a young or small pig. It is used in an affectionate way.
Did you know?
- While 'little pig' sounds innocent in English, calling a person a cochon in French can be a much stronger insult, implying they are extremely dirty or even suggesting sexual deviance.
- The word cochon is thought to be onomatopoeic, meaning it was originally created to mimic the actual grunting sounds a pig makes.
- In French, if you call someone a petit cochon, it often shifts from being a description of a small animal to a playful, flirtatious way of calling someone a 'little rascal' or 'naughty'.
Examples in context
- Mon petit cochon, tu es trop mignon !My little pig, you are so cute!
- Regarde ce petit cochon rose.Look at this little pink pig.
- Le petit cochon mange dans la boue.The little pig is eating in the mud.
- Il y a un petit cochon dans la ferme.There is a little pig on the farm.
Example conversation
Lucas and Emma are visiting a local petting zoo.
- LucasEmma, regarde ce petit cochon !Emma, look at this little pig!
- EmmaOh, il est vraiment mignon.Oh, it is really cute.
- LucasEst-ce que le petit cochon a faim ?Is the little pig hungry?
- EmmaOui, je pense qu'il veut manger.Yes, I think he wants to eat.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cochon, petit, CC BY-SA 4.0.
