pélican
/pe.li.kɑ̃/masculine
The English word "pelican" is pélican in French.
The word refers to any of the various seabirds belonging to the family Pelecanidae.
Meaning: any of various seabirds of the family Pelecanidae (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
pélican is a masculine noun. The plural form is pélicans.
How do you pronounce it?
/pe.li.kɑ̃/ (3 syllables)
Did you know?
- The French word pélican is used in the expression avoir un bec de pélican, which describes someone who can consume huge quantities of food or drink very quickly.
- In French folklore and medieval art, the pélican was believed to pierce its own breast to feed its young with its blood, making it a symbol of sacrifice and the Passion of Christ.
- The Latin root of pélican, pelecānus, is thought to be related to the Greek word for 'shovel', referring to the bird's unique bill shape.
Examples in context
- Que mangent les pélicans ?What does the pelican eat?This sentence is useful for asking about the diet of a pélican.Tatoeba #8738938 by Micsmithel, translation #7905453 by AlanF_US
- J'ai vu un gros pélican là-bas.I saw a big pelican there.This sentence is useful for describing seeing a large pélican.Tatoeba #7793991 by Aiji, translation #2693392 by AlanF_US
- Un pélican peut placer beaucoup de poisson dans son bec.A pelican can fit a lot of fish in its beak.This sentence is useful for describing the capacity of a pélican to hold fish in its beak.Tatoeba #808312 by sacredceltic, translation #693434 by darinmex
- As-tu déjà vu le pélican voler au-dessus de la mer?Have you ever seen the pelican flying above the sea?
- Le pélican est un oiseau impressionnant.The pelican is an impressive bird.
- Le pélican se caractérise par son grand bec et son plumage blanc.The pelican is characterized by its large beak and white plumage.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hugo and Emma are visiting a zoo.
- HugoRegarde ce pélican !Look at that pelican!
- EmmaIl est vraiment impressionnant.He is really impressive.
- HugoLe pélican a un bec énorme.The pelican has a huge beak.
- EmmaOui, c'est fascinant à voir.Yes, it's fascinating to see.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pelican” translations and entries pélican, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pélican, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
