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French vocabulary · Beginner
How do you say "whale" in French?
la baleine
In French, "whale" is la baleine.
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Pronunciation
Pronounced 'ba-len'. Two syllables, emphasis on the first. The final e is silent.
Grammar notes
Baleine is feminine. Plural: les baleines. Not to be confused with 'baleine' which also means 'whalebone'.
Example sentence
La baleine blanche chante dans l'océan.
The white whale sings in the ocean.
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How to remember la baleine
Baleine comes from Latin balaena. The word emphasizes that a whale is a large, magnificent creature.
Related words
- clam la palourde
- clownfish le poisson-clown
- crab le crabe
- manatee le lamantin
- mosquito le moustique
- orca l'orque
- sea horse l'hippocampe
- sea otter la loutre de mer
- towel la serviette
Browse all French words in the glossary.
Questions about la baleine
How do you say "whale" in French?
In French, "whale" is la baleine. It is a noun.
Is la baleine masculine or feminine?
Baleine is feminine. Plural: les baleines. Not to be confused with 'baleine' which also means 'whalebone'.
How is la baleine used in a sentence?
Use la baleine as you would use the equivalent noun in English. For example: La baleine blanche chante dans l'océan. (The white whale sings in the ocean.).
Where can I practice French words for free?
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"Whale" in other languages
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