corniaud
/kɔʁ.njo/masculine
The English phrase 'mutt' can be translated into French using corniaud. Wiktionary also lists cabot.
Meaning: mongrel dog (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| corniaud | /kɔʁ.njo/ | masculine |
| cabot | /ka.bo/ | masculine, slang |
The term refers to a mongrel dog (noun).
Which one should you use?
corniaud is the standard, neutral term for a mixed-breed or mongrel dog, whereas cabot is a slang term.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a formal context, you can use chien croisé or chien métis. For neutral or standard descriptions, use corniaud. In informal settings, you may use corniaud, cabot or bâtard.
How does it change in a sentence?
To talk about more than one dog, the plural of corniaud is corniauds and the plural of cabot is cabots.
How do you pronounce it?
corniaud is pronounced /kɔʁ.njo/ and consists of 2 syllables.
Did you know?
- While cabot refers to a dog, it is also used in the French theater world to describe an actor who overacts to steal the spotlight from others.
- The word corniaud shares a linguistic root with corne, meaning 'horn', likely referring to the varied or distorted physical traits often seen in mixed-breed animals.
- In certain French regional dialects, particularly in older maritime contexts, cabot was used to describe a small, clumsy boat.
Examples in context
- Dégage, cabot !Scram, mutt!This sentence shows how to use cabot.Tatoeba #10015027 by Micsmithel, translation #799233 by FeuDRenais2
- Le chien de mon voisin est un chien croisé.My neighbor's dog is a mutt.
- Les chiens métis peuvent avoir des caractéristiques variées.Mutt dogs can have various characteristics.
- Mon corniaud est un mélange de plusieurs races.My mutt is a mix of several breeds.
- C'est un joli corniaud.It is a pretty mongrel dog.
- Le vieux corniaud dort dans le jardin.The old mutt is sleeping in the garden.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Léa and Nathan are walking through a park.
- LéaRegarde ce petit corniaud, il est mignon !Look at that little mutt, he is cute!
- NathanOui, il a l'air très affectueux.Yes, he looks very affectionate.
- LéaTu penses qu'il est perdu ?Do you think he is lost?
- NathanPeut-être, nous devrions vérifier s'il a un collier.Maybe, we should check if he has a collar.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mutt” translations and entries corniaud, cabot, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
