rat
/ʁa/masculine
The French word for rat is rat. Wiktionary also lists souris and surmulot.
Meaning: rodent (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| rat | /ʁa/ | masculine |
| souris | /su.ʁi/ | feminine |
| surmulot | /syʁ.my.lo/ | masculine |
| rat gris | masculine | |
| rat d'égout | masculine | |
| rat noir | masculine |
The term is used to refer to the rodent. When referring specifically to the common brown rat found in urban sewer systems, the phrase rat d'égout is used.
Which one should you use?
While rat refers to a rat, the word souris is used for a mouse. Specific varieties include rat gris, rat noir and the sewer rat, rat d'égout.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The word rat is a masculine noun. The word souris is a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʁa/
Did you know?
- The word rat is not Latin in origin but comes from Germanic languages such as Frankish or Old High German.
- The phrase être rat is a French colloquialism used to describe someone who is stingy or a miser.
- French has a specific term surmulot for the oversized brown rats often found in cities, distinguishing them from smaller wild rats.
Examples in context
- Le chat flaire un rat.The cat smells a rat.This sentence shows the use of rat.Tatoeba #12506821 by Orange, translation #12506827 by Orange
- Un rat traversa la route.A rat ran across the road.Tatoeba #14172 by Aiji, translation #35798 by CK
- C'est de la viande de rat.It's rat meat.Tatoeba #8648938 by Micsmithel, translation #2697098 by CM
- 25 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas and Léa are looking at the garden at night.
- LucasRegarde, Léa, il y a un rat !Look, Léa, there is a rat!
- LéaOh non, il est énorme.Oh no, it is huge.
- LucasIl court vers la clôture.It is running towards the fence.
- LéaJe déteste cet animal.I hate that animal.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “rat” translations and entries rat, souris, surmulot, rat gris, rat d'égout, rat noir, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries gris, rat, souris, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
