teigne
/tɛɲ/feminine
The English word ringworm is translated into French as teigne. Wiktionary also lists roue de Sainte-Catherine and rogne.
Meaning: contagious fungal affliction of the skin (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| teigne | /tɛɲ/ | feminine |
| roue de Sainte-Catherine | feminine | |
| rogne | /ʁɔɲ/ | feminine |
The term refers to a contagious fungal affliction of the skin.
Which one should you use?
Roue de Sainte-Catherine is another feminine form, while rogne is a dated way to refer to the condition.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The formal way to say ringworm in French is la teigne. The term rogne is considered an archaic or dated expression.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun teigne is feminine and is used with the feminine article la.
How do you pronounce it?
/tɛɲ/
Did you know?
- The expression roue de Sainte-Catherine translates literally as 'Saint Catherine's wheel'. This refers to the circular shape of the infection and the spiked wheel used to martyr the saint.
- In modern French, teigne is used as a slang insult to describe a person who is stubborn, spiteful or difficult to deal with.
- The term teigne is etymologically linked to the Latin word 'tinea', which refers to a moth rather than a fungus.
Examples in context
- J'ai attrapé un truc bizarre sur ma peau. Oh non, tu as probablement une teigne. Sérieusement? Comment est-ce que je m'en débarrasse? Va voir un médecin pour obtenir un traitement approprié.I caught something weird on my skin. Oh no, you probably have ringworm. Seriously? How do I get rid of it? Go see a doctor to get appropriate treatment.
- Il a une teigne sur le cuir chevelu.He has ringworm on his scalp.
- La teigne est très contagieuse.Ringworm is very contagious.
Example conversation
Hugo and Léa are at the vet with a pet.
- HugoRegarde cette tache sur son cuir chevelu.Look at this spot on his scalp.
- LéaJe pense que c'est la teigne.I think it is ringworm.
- HugoEst-ce que je peux l'attraper aussi ?Can I catch it too?
- LéaOui, c'est possible, Hugo.Yes, it is possible, Hugo.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “ringworm” translations and entries teigne, rogne, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, rogne, roue, teigne, CC BY-SA 4.0.
