écureuil
/e.ky.ʁœj/masculine
The French word for squirrel is écureuil. Wiktionary also lists écureuille.
Meaning: rodent (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| écureuil | /e.ky.ʁœj/ | masculine |
| écureuille | feminine |
The term is used to refer to the rodent species.
Which one should you use?
The masculine form écureuil is the standard term for the species. The feminine form écureuille is used specifically when referring to a female squirrel.
How does it change in a sentence?
While écureuil is the standard term for the species, the feminine form écureuille is used specifically when referring to a female squirrel.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /e.ky.ʁœj/. It has 3 syllables.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often struggle with the final syllable of écureuil, mistakenly pronouncing it like the English word 'oil' instead of the French 'œj' sound.
Did you know?
- The Greek root of écureuil suggests the animal is a 'shadow-tail' because its bushy tail provides shade for its body. This creates a vivid mental image that the French word preserves.
- In French literature and fables, the écureuil is often depicted as a symbol of foresight and thriftiness due to its habit of hoarding nuts.
- The word écureuil is a linguistic rarity in French because it features the sequence u followed immediately by eu, creating a dense cluster of rounded vowels.
Examples in context
- As-tu vu l'écureuil ?Did you see the squirrel?This sentence is useful for asking if someone has seen the écureuil.Tatoeba #6684339 by felix63, translation #6909390 by kaiperkins271
- Était-ce un écureuil ?Was that a squirrel?This sentence is useful for asking if a creature was an écureuil.Tatoeba #3386255 by sacredceltic, translation #3385963 by Hybrid
- Tom n'a qu'un écureuil.Tom has only one squirrel.This sentence is useful for stating that someone has only one écureuil.Tatoeba #5662714 by Yemana, translation #3250967 by Hybrid
- L'écureuil grimpe habilement aux arbres.The squirrel skillfully climbs the trees.
- 77 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chloé and Lucas are walking in the park.
- ChloéRegarde le petit écureuil là-bas !Look at the little squirrel over there!
- LucasOh oui, il mange une noisette.Oh yes, it is eating a hazelnut.
- ChloéL'écureuil est vraiment très rapide.The squirrel is really very fast.
- LucasC'est vrai, il a disparu !That's true, it disappeared!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “squirrel” translations and entries écureuil, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries écureuil, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
