dinde
/dɛ̃d/feminine
The English word turkey is translated into French as dinde or dindon.
Meaning: bird in the genus Meleagris (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| dinde | /dɛ̃d/ | feminine |
| dindon | /dɛ̃.dɔ̃/ | masculine |
Both terms refer to the bird in the genus Meleagris. The term volaille is a more generic word for poultry that includes the turkey.
Which one should you use?
The feminine form dinde is used to refer to the bird in general or the meat used for food. The masculine form dindon specifically refers to a male turkey.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The word dinde is a feminine noun, while dindon is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/dɛ̃d/
Did you know?
- French has a specific word for the turkey's sound, glouglouter, which is also used to describe the sound of pouring liquid into a glass.
- In French, calling a man a dindon does not describe his species, but suggests he is a gullible person or a fool.
- The word dinde actually comes from an old way of saying 'hen from India'. Early explorers mistakenly believed the Americas were part of the Indies, so they called the bird a poule d'Inde.
Examples in context
- J'ai coupé la dinde.I sliced the turkey.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use the form dinde when slicing meat.Tatoeba #10346611 by Aiji, translation #5958442 by CK
- Elle a rôti la dinde.She roasted the turkey.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use the form dinde when roasting meat.Tatoeba #2033000 by Amastan, translation #2032998 by Spamster
- Quand manges-tu de la dinde ?When do you eat turkey?This sentence is useful for seeing how to use the form dinde when asking about eating the meat.Tatoeba #12040104 by zogwarg, translation #1830491 by CK
- La dinde est une volaille savoureuse et populaire pendant la saison des fêtes.Turkey is a delicious and popular poultry during the holiday season.
- Nous allons préparer un délicieux dindon pour le repas de Noël.We are going to prepare a delicious turkey for Christmas dinner.
- Je vais préparer une dinde rôtie pour notre repas de Thanksgiving.I am going to prepare a roasted turkey for our Thanksgiving meal.
- Les dindes sauvages sont de plus en plus rares dans cette région.Wild turkeys are becoming increasingly rare in this region.
- Hier soir, nous avons mangé du dindon pour le dîner.Last night, we had turkey for dinner.
- 27 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Léa and Nathan are planning a dinner menu.
- LéaOn mange de la dinde pour Noël ?Are we eating turkey for Christmas?
- NathanOui, c'est une bonne idée.Yes, that is a good idea.
- LéaJe vais acheter une grosse dinde.I will buy a big turkey.
- NathanParfait, je m'occupe du dessert.Perfect, I will take care of the dessert.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “turkey” translations and entries dinde, dindon, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dinde, dindon, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
