dionée
/djɔ.ne/feminine
The English phrase "venus flytrap" is translated into French as dionée.
dionée refers to the carnivorous plant Dionaea muscipula.
Meaning: Dionaea muscipula (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
/djɔ.ne/
Did you know?
- The word dionée is derived from the name of the Greek goddess Dioné, which adds a mythological layer to the French name that the English 'flytrap' lacks.
- The English word 'Venus' is entirely absent from the French common name, despite the plant being named after the goddess in English.
- In French, the term piège (trap) is used to describe the plant's closing mechanism, but dionée itself refers to the whole organism, not just the trap.
Examples in context
- L'attrape-mouche de Vénus, avec ses feuilles vivantes, est une œuvre étonnante de la nature.The Venus flytrap, with its living leaves, is a startling work of nature.
- La dionée est une plante carnivore.The venus flytrap is a carnivorous plant.
- J'ai acheté une petite dionée pour mon bureau.I bought a small venus flytrap for my desk.
- Regarde cette dionée qui attrape un insecte.Look at this venus flytrap catching an insect.
Example conversation
Gabriel and Léa are visiting a plant nursery.
- GabrielRegarde Léa, ils vendent une dionée ici !Look Léa, they are selling a venus flytrap here!
- LéaOh, elle est fascinante, mais elle fait peur.Oh, it is fascinating, but it is scary.
- GabrielC'est vrai, mais j'en veux une chez moi.True, but I want one at my house.
- LéaFais attention à ne pas mettre tes doigts dedans.Be careful not to put your fingers inside.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “venus flytrap” translations and entries dionée, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
