hippocampe
/i.pɔ.kɑ̃p/masculine
The English phrase sea horse is translated into French as hippocampe.
The word hippocampe is a masculine noun used to refer to the sea horse fish.
Meaning: fish (noun)
Which one should you use?
There are two ways to refer to the sea horse in French. You can use the term hippocampe or the phrase cheval de mer. For the singular 'the sea horse', you can say L'hippocampe or Le cheval de mer. For the plural 'the sea horses', you can say Les hippocampes or Les chevaux de mer.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun hippocampe is masculine. When using the definite article in the singular, hippocampe becomes L'hippocampe. In the plural, the definite article is Les and the noun becomes Les hippocampes. For the alternative phrase, the singular is Le cheval de mer and the plural is Les chevaux de mer.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has three syllables and is pronounced /i.pɔ.kɑ̃p/.
Did you know?
- The word hippocampe is used in French to describe the part of the brain that manages memory, as its shape resembles the fish.
- The Greek roots of hippocampe combine 'horse' and 'sea monster', suggesting the creature was seen as something much more fearsome than a tiny fish.
- The term hippocampe is shared by both the tiny fish and the constellation in the southern sky.
Examples in context
- J'ai appris que l'hippocampe est un animal fascinant.I learned that the sea horse is a fascinating animal.
- Regarde, maman ! Il y a un cheval de mer dans l'aquarium !Look, Mom! There's a sea horse in the aquarium!
- L'hippocampe est très petit.The sea horse is very small.
- J'ai vu un hippocampe dans l'aquarium.I saw a sea horse in the aquarium.
- Cet hippocampe est de couleur orange.This sea horse is orange in color.
Example conversation
Hugo and Chloé are at the aquarium looking at a tank.
- HugoRegarde ce petit hippocampe, Chloé !Look at this little sea horse, Chloé!
- ChloéOh, il est vraiment mignon.Oh, it is really cute.
- HugoEst-ce que tu l'as déjà vu ?Have you seen it before?
- ChloéNon, c'est ma première fois.No, it is my first time.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sea horse” translations and entries hippocampe, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hippocampe, CC BY-SA 4.0.
