couac
/kwak/
The French word for the verb 'to squawk' is couac.
Meaning: to make a squawking noise (verb)
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /kwak/.
Did you know?
- The origins of couac are remarkably far from Europe, as linguists trace the word back to the Cariban languages of South America.
- The term faire un couac is often used by French politicians and spokespeople to describe a communication failure or a PR disaster.
- In the world of French music, a couac is not just a bird noise, but a term used to describe a jarring, off-key note that ruins a performance.
Examples in context
- Le perroquet a crié en sortant du nid.The parrot squawked as it left the nest.
- J'entends les cris des mouettes au-dessus de la mer.I hear the seagulls' squawks above the sea.
- Le perroquet a encore braillé ce matin.The parrot squawked again this morning.
- Les mouettes jabotaient au-dessus de la mer.The seagulls were squawking above the sea.
Example conversation
Gabriel and Léa are visiting a petting zoo.
- GabrielÉcoute ce canard, il couac sans arrêt !Listen to that duck, it's squawking non-stop!
- LéaC'est drôle, il a l'air très excité.That's funny, he looks very excited.
- GabrielJe pense qu'il veut être nourri.I think he wants to be fed.
- LéaIl couac encore plus fort maintenant !He is squawking even louder now!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry couac, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries couac, CC BY-SA 4.0.
