éléphant

Meaning

elephant

Gender

♂️ Masculine

Pronounced as (IPA)

/e.le.fɑ̃/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle French elephant, from Old French elefant, a borrowing from Latin elephantus, from Ancient Greek ἐλέφας, ἐλέφαντος (eléphas, eléphantos). The commoner Old French form was olifan(t), whence the modern doublet olifant (“ivory horn”).

Sentences

La mouche , pour rappeler le vieux mot déjà cité , n'avale pas un éléphant .

The fly, to recall the old word already mentioned, does not swallow an elephant.