mouffette
/mu.fɛt/feminine
The French word for skunk is mouffette. Wiktionary also lists putois.
Meaning: animal (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| mouffette | /mu.fɛt/ | feminine |
| putois | /py.twa/ | masculine |
The word mouffette is used to refer to the skunk.
Which one should you use?
The term mouffette is used specifically for the North American skunk. In contrast, putois refers to the European polecat, which is a different species.
Is it said differently in some regions?
mouffette is primarily used in Canada and refers to the North American skunk, while putois is a term associated with Europe for the polecat.
How does it change in a sentence?
mouffette is a feminine noun, so it is preceded by the feminine article une (e.g., une mouffette).
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables and is pronounced /mu.fɛt/.
Did you know?
- The French word mouffette is derived from the Italian word moffetta, which originally referred to sulfurous volcanic vapors.
- In French, the word mouffette is also used as a slang term to describe a person who has a very unpleasant body odor.
- The use of mouffette acts as a linguistic marker that distinguishes Canadian French from the French spoken in Europe.
Examples in context
- La mouffette a une odeur forte pour se protéger.The skunk has a strong odor to protect itself.
- La mouffette est noire et blanche.The skunk is black and white.
- Une mouffette est passée dans le jardin.A skunk went through the garden.
- Attention à cette mouffette !Watch out for that skunk!
Example conversation
Lucas and Manon are walking in the woods.
- LucasManon, ne t'approche pas de cette mouffette !Manon, don't go near that skunk!
- ManonPourquoi ? Elle a l'air mignonne.Why? It looks cute.
- LucasElle peut projeter un liquide malodorant.It can spray a foul-smelling liquid.
- ManonD'accord, on s'éloigne de la mouffette.Okay, let's move away from the skunk.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “skunk” translations and entries mouffette, putois, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mouffette, putois, CC BY-SA 4.0.
