bonhomme de neige
/bɔ.nɔm də nɛʒ/masculine
The French word for snowman is bonhomme de neige.
The term refers to a figure made of snow.
Meaning: figure made of snow (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of bon (good), homme (man), de (of) and neige (snow).
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the phrase plural, only the word bonhomme is pluralized to become des bonhommes de neige. The part de neige remains singular.
How do you pronounce it?
/bɔ.nɔm də nɛʒ/
Did you know?
- While bonhomme is masculine, the phrase is used for any snow figure, even those designed to look like women or animals.
- The word neige is a deverbal noun, meaning it was created from the verb neiger ('to snow').
- The term bonhomme was historically used in French to describe a simpleton or a naive person.
Examples in context
- C'est un bonhomme de neige.It's a snowman.This sentence is useful for identifying a snowman.Tatoeba #8317241 by Julien_PDC, translation #8684561 by Balamax
- Je fais un bonhomme de neige.I'm making a snowman.This sentence is useful for describing the act of making a snowman.Tatoeba #5700498 by gillux, translation #3820743 by CK
- Faisons un bonhomme de neige.Let's make a snowman.This sentence is useful for suggesting the activity of making a snowman.Tatoeba #11950605 by lbdx, translation #5395477 by CK
- Le bonhomme de neige fondThe snowman is melting
- Je vais construire un bonhomme de neige.I'm going to build a snowman.
- Regardez tous les bonhommes de neige dans le jardin!Look at all the snowmen in the garden!
- Il fait trop chaud, le bonhomme de neige va fondre.It's too hot, the snowman will melt.
- 23 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two children are playing in a garden covered with snow.
- LéaRegarde mon grand bonhomme de neige !Look at my big snowman!
- GabrielIl est très joli, Léa.It is very pretty, Léa.
- LéaTu veux m'aider pour le bonhomme de neige ?Do you want to help me with the snowman?
- GabrielOui, je vais chercher des carottes.Yes, I am going to get some carrots.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “snowman” translations and entries bonhomme de neige, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bonhomme, de, neige, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
