phoque
/fɔk/masculine
The English word 'seal' (referring to the animal) is translated into French as phoque.
phoque is the standard French term for the pinniped animal. For example, if you are talking specifically about a gray seal, you would use the phrase Phoque gris.
Meaning: pinniped (noun)
Which one should you use?
In French, it is important to distinguish between different types of pinnipeds. Use phoque to refer to a true seal, whereas otarie is the specific term used for a sea lion.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun phoque is masculine, so it is used with the masculine definite article le (e.g., le phoque).
How do you pronounce it?
/fɔk/
Did you know?
- The pronunciation of phoque is identical to a common French slang word for a sexual act, making it a frequent target for puns and schoolboy jokes.
- The spelling of phoque uses the 'ph' combination, which is a direct remnant of its Greek origin rather than the more common French 'f' sound.
- While phoque refers to the animal, the English word 'seal' has a homonym for a stamp or closure, which in French is a completely different word: sceau.
Examples in context
- Le phoque est un mammifère marin.A seal is a marine mammal.This sentence is useful for identifying the phoque as a marine mammal.Tatoeba #4468592 by Mutusen, translation #13052513 by araneo
- Peux-tu faire la différence entre un phoque et une otarie ?Can you tell the difference between a seal and a sea lion?This sentence is useful for illustrating how to distinguish a phoque from an otarie.Tatoeba #8925744 by lbdx, translation #8926338 by carlosalberto
- J'ai vraiment adoré les phoques que j'ai vus aujourd'hui!I really loved the seals I saw today!
- Un phoque se repose sur la glace.A seal is resting on the ice.
Example conversation
Léa and Gabriel are watching a nature documentary on TV.
- LéaRegarde ce petit phoque sur la vidéo !Look at that little seal in the video!
- GabrielIl est vraiment mignon, ce phoque.That seal is really cute.
- LéaOù vit-il exactement ?Where does it live exactly?
- GabrielIl vit dans les eaux froides.It lives in cold waters.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “seal” translations and entries phoque, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
