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French vocabulary · Beginner
How do you say "turtle" in French?
la tortue
In French, "turtle" is la tortue.
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Pronunciation
Pronounced 'tor-tu'. Two syllables. The u at the end is silent in French, so it sounds like 'tor-tee'.
Grammar notes
Tortue is feminine. Plural: les tortues. No irregular forms. The word applies to both sea turtles and land tortoises.
Example sentence
La tortue nage lentement vers le rivage.
The turtle swims slowly toward the shore.
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How to remember la tortue
Tortue comes from Latin testudo, meaning 'hard shell'. The double t emphasizes the tough shell that protects the turtle.
Related words
- clownfish le poisson-clown
- fly la mouche
- insect l'insecte
- jellyfish la méduse
- lobster le homard
- seafood les fruits de mer
- squid le calamar
- tuna le thon
- walrus le morse
Browse all French words in the glossary.
Questions about la tortue
How do you say "turtle" in French?
In French, "turtle" is la tortue. It is a noun.
Is la tortue masculine or feminine?
Tortue is feminine. Plural: les tortues. No irregular forms. The word applies to both sea turtles and land tortoises.
How is la tortue used in a sentence?
Use la tortue as you would use the equivalent noun in English. For example: La tortue nage lentement vers le rivage. (The turtle swims slowly toward the shore.).
Where can I practice French words for free?
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"Turtle" in other languages
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