paresseux
/pa.ʁɛ.sø/masculine
The English word 'sloth' (the mammal) is translated into French as paresseux. Wiktionary also lists aï.
Meaning: mammal (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| paresseux | /pa.ʁɛ.sø/ /pa.ʁe.sø/ |
masculine |
| aï | /a.i/ | masculine |
The word refers to the slow-moving mammal. In French, the noun used for the animal is identical to the adjective meaning 'lazy' or 'slothful'.
What does it mean word for word?
The term paresseux literally means 'lazy' or 'slothful'.
Which one should you use?
While paresseux is the common term for the animal, aï is a specific synonym used for certain species of three-toed sloths.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine noun is paresseux, but the feminine form of the noun is paresseuse.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables and is pronounced /pa.ʁɛ.sø/.
Did you know?
- The word aï for the sloth is a direct linguistic fossil from the Tupi language of South America. It reflects the name given to the animal by the indigenous peoples who first encountered it.
- In French, the word paresse meaning 'laziness' is closely linked to the animal, creating a linguistic loop where the creature is named after the sin of sloth.
- Because paresseux is both the animal and the adjective for 'lazy', a French speaker can technically call a sloth a paresseux paresseux ('lazy sloth').
Examples in context
- Un paresseux doit conserver son énergie à cause de son régime hypocalorique de feuilles.A sloth must conserve its energy because it eats a low-calorie diet of leaves.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use paresseux when describing the animal's energy conservation.Tatoeba #8400036 by marioo, translation #3289048 by AlanF_US
- Les paresseux habitent principalement en Amérique du Sud.Sloths primarily inhabit South America.
- J'ai été un vrai fainéant pendant le week-end.I was a real sloth over the weekend.
- J'ai vu un paresseux dans le zoo.I saw a sloth at the zoo.
- Le paresseux vit dans la forêt tropicale.The sloth lives in the tropical rainforest.
Example conversation
Chloé and Lucas are visiting a zoo.
- ChloéLucas, regarde le paresseux là-bas !Lucas, look at the sloth over there!
- LucasIl ne bouge pas du tout.He is not moving at all.
- ChloéC'est normal pour un paresseux.That is normal for a sloth.
- LucasIl a l'air vraiment mignon.He looks really cute.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sloth” translations and entries paresseux, aï, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries aï, paresseux, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
