mon ours
The English phrase "my bear" is translated into French as mon ours.
This phrase is used to refer to a bear that belongs to the speaker.
Which one should you use?
Other informal variations exist depending on the specific type of bear being described. Use Mon p'tit ours for "my little bear", Mon ourson for "my teddy bear" or "my little bear" and Mon gros nounours to refer to a big, cuddly teddy bear.
How does it change in a sentence?
Mon is used before masculine singular nouns starting with a consonant, whereas ma is used before feminine singular nouns starting with a consonant.
Did you know?
- While mon ours refers to a bear, calling a person un ours in French suggests they are grumpy or socially awkward.
- In France, romantic partners rarely use mon ours as a nickname, preferring instead terms like mon chou or mon cœur.
- The French word mon is derived from the Latin 'meum', but its development was likely influenced by the word 'mon' from the ancient Gaulish language.
Examples in context
- Mon ours est très mignon.My bear is very cute
- Ma peluche favorite est un nounours brun.My favorite stuffed toy is a brown teddy bear
- Mon toutou est tout doux.My teddy bear is very soft
- C'est mon ours.It is my bear.
- J'aime beaucoup mon ours.I like my bear a lot.
- Où est mon ours ?Where is my bear?
Example conversation
Hugo and Manon are tidying up a bedroom.
- HugoJe ne trouve pas mon ours.I can't find my bear.
- ManonIl est sous le lit, Hugo.It is under the bed, Hugo.
- HugoAh oui, voilà mon ours !Ah yes, here is my bear!
- ManonMaintenant, range tes jouets.Now, put away your toys.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mon, ours, CC BY-SA 4.0.
