chouette
/ʃwɛt/feminine
The English word owl is translated into French as either hibou or chouette.
Meaning: bird (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| chouette | /ʃwɛt/ | feminine |
| hibou | /i.bu/ | masculine |
Both hibou and chouette refer to the bird known as an owl. In a colloquial context, the feminine form chouette can also be used as an adjective to mean cool, great or nice.
Which one should you use?
The choice between the two words often depends on the physical appearance of the bird. hibou is typically used for owls with ear tufts or horns, whereas chouette is used for owls without them.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
While both words are standard for the bird, chouette has an informal usage when used as an adjective to mean cool or great.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural of the masculine hibou is hiboux, and the plural of the feminine chouette is chouettes.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʃwɛt/
Did you know?
- The word chouette is actually a diminutive of the Old French word for 'jackdaw', a bird in the crow family.
- The word hibou is an onomatopoeia, meaning it was created to imitate the actual sound the bird makes.
- French speakers may use chouette as an interjection to express excitement, similar to saying 'Great!' or 'Awesome!' in English.
Examples in context
- Chouette, une chouette !Cool! An owl!This sentence shows how chouette can be used to mean cool.Tatoeba #10504179 by pkill, translation #10504195 by DJ_Saidez
- J'ai entendu un hibou hululer.I heard an owl hooting.This sentence uses hibou to describe the sound of the bird.Tatoeba #8955951 by lbdx, translation #7966838 by CK
- Je viens de voir un hibou énorme.I just saw a huge owl.This sentence uses hibou to describe the size of the bird.Tatoeba #6966343 by Yemana, translation #6954926 by Eccles17
- Le hibou est un oiseau de proie nocturne.The owl is a nocturnal bird of prey.
- La chouette effraie est un prédateur nocturne silencieux.The barn owl is a silent nocturnal predator.
- 23 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas and Manon are walking in a forest at night.
- LucasRegarde cette chouette sur la branche !Look at that owl on the branch!
- ManonOh, elle est vraiment magnifique.Oh, it is truly magnificent.
- LucasElle me fait un peu peur.She scares me a little.
- ManonNe sois pas peureux, Lucas.Don't be fearful, Lucas.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “owl” translations and entries chouette, hibou, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries chouette, hibou, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
