Dinosaurs are fascinating creatures that lived millions of years ago, and many people love learning about them. If you’re curious about how to talk about dinosaurs in French, you’re in the right place! Whether you’re traveling, studying French, or just want to impress your friends, knowing how to say “dinosaur” in another language is both fun and educational.
In this article, we’ll teach you how to say “dinosaur” in French and explore some other interesting ways to talk about these prehistoric animals. You’ll also learn how to respond to related phrases, practice your skills with exercises, and feel more confident using this word in conversations. Let’s dive in and discover more about dinosaurs in French!
Ways to Say “Dinosaur” in French
In French, the word “dinosaur” is not just about referring to these amazing creatures but also capturing the interest they bring to people of all ages. Whether you’re a student, a parent, or a dinosaur enthusiast, these French phrases can help you talk about dinosaurs in various contexts. Below are different ways to say “dinosaur” in French, along with their meanings and examples.
1. Dinosaure
Pronunciation: dee-noh-zohr
Meaning: Dinosaur (general term).
In a Sentence:
- J’adore apprendre sur les dinosaures. (I love learning about dinosaurs.)
- Les dinosaures ont vécu il y a des millions d’années. (Dinosaurs lived millions of years ago.)
2. Fossile de dinosaure
Pronunciation: foh-seel duh dee-noh-zohr
Meaning: Dinosaur fossil.
In a Sentence:
- Ce musée a un fossile de dinosaure très ancien. (This museum has a very old dinosaur fossil.)
- As-tu déjà vu un fossile de dinosaure? (Have you ever seen a dinosaur fossil?)
3. Espèce de dinosaure
Pronunciation: ess-pehss duh dee-noh-zohr
Meaning: Dinosaur species.
In a Sentence:
- Chaque espèce de dinosaure avait des caractéristiques uniques. (Each dinosaur species had unique features.)
- Les scientifiques découvrent encore de nouvelles espèces de dinosaures. (Scientists are still discovering new species of dinosaurs.)
4. Œuf de dinosaure
Pronunciation: uhf duh dee-noh-zohr
Meaning: Dinosaur egg.
In a Sentence:
- Ils ont trouvé un œuf de dinosaure fossilisé. (They found a fossilized dinosaur egg.)
- Regarde ce modèle d’un œuf de dinosaure au musée! (Look at this model of a dinosaur egg at the museum!)
5. Squelette de dinosaure
Pronunciation: skuh-lett duh dee-noh-zohr
Meaning: Dinosaur skeleton.
In a Sentence:
- Le squelette de dinosaure dans le musée est impressionnant. (The dinosaur skeleton in the museum is impressive.)
- Cette exposition présente un squelette de dinosaure complet. (This exhibit features a complete dinosaur skeleton.)
6. Petit dinosaure
Pronunciation: puh-tee dee-noh-zohr
Meaning: Small dinosaur.
In a Sentence:
- Ce film montre un petit dinosaure adorable. (This movie shows an adorable small dinosaur.)
- Les enfants ont dessiné un petit dinosaure. (The children drew a small dinosaur.)
7. Gros dinosaure
Pronunciation: groh dee-noh-zohr
Meaning: Big dinosaur.
In a Sentence:
- Un gros dinosaure peut peser des tonnes. (A big dinosaur can weigh tons.)
- Ils ont vu un modèle d’un gros dinosaure au parc. (They saw a model of a big dinosaur at the park.)
8. Dinosaure herbivore
Pronunciation: dee-noh-zohr air-bee-vohr
Meaning: Herbivorous dinosaur.
In a Sentence:
- Le diplodocus est un dinosaure herbivore. (The diplodocus is a herbivorous dinosaur.)
- Connaissez-vous un dinosaure herbivore célèbre? (Do you know a famous herbivorous dinosaur?)
9. Dinosaure carnivore
Pronunciation: dee-noh-zohr kahr-nee-vohr
Meaning: Carnivorous dinosaur.
In a Sentence:
- Le T-rex est un dinosaure carnivore redoutable. (The T-rex is a formidable carnivorous dinosaur.)
- Quels dinosaures carnivores préférez-vous? (Which carnivorous dinosaurs do you prefer?)
10. Traces de dinosaure
Pronunciation: trahss duh dee-noh-zohr
Meaning: Dinosaur tracks.
In a Sentence:
- Les paléontologues étudient des traces de dinosaures. (Paleontologists study dinosaur tracks.)
- Ces traces de dinosaures ont été trouvées dans le désert. (These dinosaur tracks were found in the desert.)
11. Dinosaure volant
Pronunciation: dee-noh-zohr voh-lahn
Meaning: Flying dinosaur.
In a Sentence:
- Le ptérodactyle est un dinosaure volant. (The pterodactyl is a flying dinosaur.)
- Avez-vous vu une représentation d’un dinosaure volant? (Have you seen a depiction of a flying dinosaur?)
12. Dinosaure marin
Pronunciation: dee-noh-zohr mah-ran
Meaning: Marine dinosaur.
In a Sentence:
- Les mosasaures étaient des dinosaures marins. (Mosasauruses were marine dinosaurs.)
- J’aime lire sur les dinosaures marins comme le plésiosaure. (I enjoy reading about marine dinosaurs like the plesiosaur.)
13. Dinosaure à cornes
Pronunciation: dee-noh-zohr ah korn
Meaning: Dinosaur with horns.
In a Sentence:
- Le tricératops est un dinosaure à cornes bien connu. (The triceratops is a well-known dinosaur with horns.)
- Ils ont découvert un nouveau dinosaure à cornes. (They discovered a new horned dinosaur.)
14. Dinosaure bipède
Pronunciation: dee-noh-zohr bee-ped
Meaning: Bipedal dinosaur.
In a Sentence:
- Beaucoup de dinosaures bipèdes étaient carnivores. (Many bipedal dinosaurs were carnivores.)
- Les fossiles montrent un dinosaure bipède impressionnant. (The fossils show an impressive bipedal dinosaur.)
15. Dinosaure quadrupède
Pronunciation: dee-noh-zohr kwah-droo-ped
Meaning: Quadrupedal dinosaur.
In a Sentence:
- Les diplodocus étaient des dinosaures quadrupèdes. (Diplodocuses were quadrupedal dinosaurs.)
- Un dinosaure quadrupède est souvent plus grand qu’un bipède. (A quadrupedal dinosaur is often larger than a biped.)
16. Dinosaure préhistorique
Pronunciation: dee-noh-zohr pray-ees-tohr-eek
Meaning: Prehistoric dinosaur.
In a Sentence:
- Les films montrent souvent des dinosaures préhistoriques. (Movies often show prehistoric dinosaurs.)
- Cet ouvrage parle de dinosaures préhistoriques. (This book talks about prehistoric dinosaurs.)
17. Reptile géant
Pronunciation: rep-teel zhay-ahnt
Meaning: Giant reptile (a poetic term for dinosaurs).
In a Sentence:
- Les dinosaures étaient parfois appelés reptiles géants. (Dinosaurs were sometimes called giant reptiles.)
- Imaginez ces reptiles géants dans leur environnement naturel. (Imagine these giant reptiles in their natural environment.)
18. Monstre jurassique
Pronunciation: mohn-struh zhu-rah-seek
Meaning: Jurassic monster.
In a Sentence:
- Le T-rex est souvent décrit comme un monstre jurassique. (The T-rex is often described as a Jurassic monster.)
- Les enfants adorent dessiner des monstres jurassiques. (Kids love drawing Jurassic monsters.)
19. Ancêtres des oiseaux
Pronunciation: ahn-sehtr duh-zoh-zoh
Meaning: Ancestors of birds.
In a Sentence:
- Certains dinosaures sont considérés comme des ancêtres des oiseaux. (Some dinosaurs are considered ancestors of birds.)
- Les oiseaux partagent des traits avec leurs ancêtres dinosaures. (Birds share traits with their dinosaur ancestors.)
20. Animal préhistorique
Pronunciation: ah-nee-mal pray-ees-tohr-eek
Meaning: Prehistoric animal.
In a Sentence:
- Un dinosaure est un animal préhistorique fascinant. (A dinosaur is a fascinating prehistoric animal.)
- Ce film parle d’animaux préhistoriques, y compris les dinosaures. (This movie talks about prehistoric animals, including dinosaurs.)
21. Dinosaure à plumes
Pronunciation: dee-noh-zohr ah ploom
Meaning: Feathered dinosaur.
In a Sentence:
- Certains dinosaures à plumes ressemblent à des oiseaux modernes. (Some feathered dinosaurs look like modern birds.)
- Le vélociraptor est parfois imaginé comme un dinosaure à plumes. (The velociraptor is sometimes imagined as a feathered dinosaur.)
22. Dinosaure omnivore
Pronunciation: dee-noh-zohr ohm-nee-vohr
Meaning: Omnivorous dinosaur.
In a Sentence:
- Un dinosaure omnivore mangeait à la fois des plantes et de la viande. (An omnivorous dinosaur ate both plants and meat.)
- Les scientifiques étudient les régimes alimentaires des dinosaures omnivores. (Scientists study the diets of omnivorous dinosaurs.)
23. Dinosaure fossile
Pronunciation: dee-noh-zohr foh-seel
Meaning: Fossilized dinosaur.
In a Sentence:
- Le musée a une exposition sur un dinosaure fossile. (The museum has an exhibit on a fossilized dinosaur.)
- Un dinosaure fossile peut nous en dire beaucoup sur le passé. (A fossilized dinosaur can tell us a lot about the past.)
24. Dinosaure en danger
Pronunciation: dee-noh-zohr ahn dahn-zjay
Meaning: Endangered dinosaur (referring to species in extinction stories).
In a Sentence:
- Les films parlent souvent d’un dinosaure en danger. (Movies often talk about an endangered dinosaur.)
- Ce jeu vidéo vous fait sauver un dinosaure en danger. (This video game has you saving an endangered dinosaur.)
25. Dinosaure terrestre
Pronunciation: dee-noh-zohr tehr-rest
Meaning: Land-dwelling dinosaur.
In a Sentence:
- Les dinosaures terrestres comme le brontosaure étaient massifs. (Land-dwelling dinosaurs like the brontosaurus were massive.)
- Les paléontologues trouvent souvent des fossiles de dinosaures terrestres. (Paleontologists often find fossils of land-dwelling dinosaurs.)
26. Dinosaure aquatique
Pronunciation: dee-noh-zohr ah-kwah-teek
Meaning: Aquatic dinosaur.
In a Sentence:
- Les dinosaures aquatiques habitaient les océans préhistoriques. (Aquatic dinosaurs lived in prehistoric oceans.)
- Le musée présente une exposition sur les dinosaures aquatiques. (The museum showcases an exhibit on aquatic dinosaurs.)
27. Carnosaure
Pronunciation: kahr-noh-sohr
Meaning: Carnivore dinosaur (specific classification).
In a Sentence:
- Le carnosaure était un chasseur redoutable. (The carnosaure was a formidable predator.)
- Ces fossiles appartiennent à un carnosaure géant. (These fossils belong to a giant carnosaure.)
28. Dinosaure herbivore géant
Pronunciation: dee-noh-zohr air-bee-vohr zhay-ahnt
Meaning: Giant herbivorous dinosaur.
In a Sentence:
- Le brachiosaure est un dinosaure herbivore géant célèbre. (The brachiosaurus is a famous giant herbivorous dinosaur.)
- Les paléontologues étudient encore les modes de vie des dinosaures herbivores géants. (Paleontologists are still studying the lifestyles of giant herbivorous dinosaurs.)
29. Dinosaure miniature
Pronunciation: dee-noh-zohr mee-nee-ah-chur
Meaning: Miniature dinosaur.
In a Sentence:
- Certains dinosaures miniatures pesaient à peine quelques kilos. (Some miniature dinosaurs weighed only a few kilograms.)
- Avez-vous vu des modèles de dinosaures miniatures dans ce musée? (Have you seen the miniature dinosaur models in this museum?)
30. Raptor préhistorique
Pronunciation: rahp-tohr pray-ees-tohr-eek
Meaning: Prehistoric raptor.
In a Sentence:
- Le raptor préhistorique est souvent représenté dans les films. (The prehistoric raptor is often depicted in movies.)
- Les griffes d’un raptor préhistorique étaient impressionnantes. (The claws of a prehistoric raptor were impressive.)
Other Ways to Say “Dinosaur” in French
Here is a table with more expressions to refer to “dinosaur” in French. Each expression has its pronunciation, meaning, and example sentences to help you understand and use them in context.
| Other Ways to Say | Pronunciation | Meaning | Example Sentences |
| Fossile ancien | foh-seel ahn-syen | Ancient fossil | Ce fossile ancien provient d’un dinosaure géant. (This ancient fossil comes from a giant dinosaur.) |
| Monstre préhistorique | mohn-struh pray-ees-tohr-eek | Prehistoric monster | Les enfants adorent lire sur les monstres préhistoriques. (Kids love reading about prehistoric monsters.) |
| Lézard géant | lay-zahr zhay-ahnt | Giant lizard | Un dinosaure est parfois appelé un lézard géant. (A dinosaur is sometimes called a giant lizard.) |
| Traces fossilisées | trahss foh-see-lee-zay | Fossilized tracks | Les traces fossilisées nous en disent long sur les dinosaures. (Fossilized tracks tell us a lot about dinosaurs.) |
| Espèces disparues | ess-pehss dis-pah-roo | Extinct species | Les dinosaures sont des espèces disparues fascinantes. (Dinosaurs are fascinating extinct species.) |
| Reptile ancien | rep-teel ahn-syen | Ancient reptile | Le musée présente un reptile ancien impressionnant. (The museum features an impressive ancient reptile.) |
| Crâne fossile | kran foh-seel | Fossilized skull | Ce crâne fossile est celui d’un dinosaure herbivore. (This fossilized skull belongs to a herbivorous dinosaur.) |
| Monstre gigantesque | mohn-struh zhee-gahn-tesk | Gigantic monster | Imaginez un monstre gigantesque comme le T-rex! (Imagine a gigantic monster like the T-rex!) |
| Ancêtre préhistorique | ahn-seh-truh pray-ees-tohr-eek | Prehistoric ancestor | Les dinosaures sont des ancêtres préhistoriques des oiseaux. (Dinosaurs are prehistoric ancestors of birds.) |
| Vertébré fossile | vehr-tay-bray foh-seel | Fossilized vertebrate | Un vertébré fossile peut inclure des restes de dinosaures. (A fossilized vertebrate can include dinosaur remains.) |
| Carnivore féroce | kahr-nee-vohr feh-rohss | Ferocious carnivore | Le T-rex était un carnivore féroce redoutable. (The T-rex was a ferocious carnivore.) |
| Herbivore paisible | air-bee-vohr pay-zee-bluh | Peaceful herbivore | Le diplodocus est connu comme un herbivore paisible. (The diplodocus is known as a peaceful herbivore.) |
| Créature jurassique | kray-ah-tur zhu-rah-seek | Jurassic creature | Les films montrent souvent des créatures jurassiques effrayantes. (Movies often show scary Jurassic creatures.) |
| Dinosaure disparu | dee-noh-zohr dis-paroo | Extinct dinosaur | Les archives montrent des dinosaures disparus fascinants. (Records show fascinating extinct dinosaurs.) |
| Squelette préhistorique | skuh-lett pray-ees-tohr-eek | Prehistoric skeleton | Le musée a un squelette préhistorique entier. (The museum has a complete prehistoric skeleton.) |
Responses to “Dinosaur” in French
When talking about dinosaurs, you might want to respond with excitement, curiosity, or additional information. Below are some responses that you can use in French. These phrases can make your conversations more engaging and allow you to express your thoughts about these prehistoric creatures in different ways.
1. Oui, j’adore les dinosaures!
Pronunciation: wee, zhah-dor lay dee-noh-zohr
Meaning: Yes, I love dinosaurs!
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Est-ce que tu aimes les dinosaures? (Do you like dinosaurs?)
Person 2: Oui, j’adore les dinosaures! (Yes, I love dinosaurs!)
2. C’est fascinant, non?
Pronunciation: say fah-see-nahn, noh?
Meaning: It’s fascinating, isn’t it?
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: As-tu lu cet article sur les dinosaures? (Did you read this article about dinosaurs?)
Person 2: C’est fascinant, non? (It’s fascinating, isn’t it?)
3. J’aimerais en savoir plus.
Pronunciation: zhay-meh-ray ahn sah-vwahr ploos
Meaning: I’d like to know more.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Ce musée a une section sur les dinosaures. (This museum has a dinosaur section.)
Person 2: J’aimerais en savoir plus. (I’d like to know more.)
4. Les dinosaures sont incroyables!
Pronunciation: lay dee-noh-zohr sohn ahn-krwah-yah-bluh
Meaning: Dinosaurs are amazing!
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Le T-rex est énorme, tu ne trouves pas? (The T-rex is huge, don’t you think?)
Person 2: Les dinosaures sont incroyables! (Dinosaurs are amazing!)
5. C’est une époque intéressante.
Pronunciation: say toon ay-pohk an-tehr-eh-sahnt
Meaning: It’s an interesting era.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Connaissez-vous l’époque jurassique? (Do you know about the Jurassic era?)
Person 2: C’est une époque intéressante. (It’s an interesting era.)
6. J’adore les histoires de dinosaures.
Pronunciation: zhah-dor lay eess-twahr duh dee-noh-zohr
Meaning: I love dinosaur stories.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Ce livre parle des dinosaures. (This book is about dinosaurs.)
Person 2: J’adore les histoires de dinosaures. (I love dinosaur stories.)
7. As-tu vu ce film sur les dinosaures?
Pronunciation: ah-too voo suh feelm sur lay dee-noh-zohr
Meaning: Have you seen that movie about dinosaurs?
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Les dinosaures sont populaires dans les films. (Dinosaurs are popular in movies.)
Person 2: As-tu vu ce film sur les dinosaures? (Have you seen that movie about dinosaurs?)
8. Les fossiles révèlent tant de choses.
Pronunciation: lay foh-seel ray-vehll tahn duh shohz
Meaning: Fossils reveal so much.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Les fossiles sont importants pour la science. (Fossils are important for science.)
Person 2: Les fossiles révèlent tant de choses. (Fossils reveal so much.)
9. Les enfants adorent les dinosaures.
Pronunciation: lay ahn-fahn ah-dor lay dee-noh-zohr
Meaning: Kids love dinosaurs.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Les dinosaures sont toujours populaires. (Dinosaurs are always popular.)
Person 2: Les enfants adorent les dinosaures. (Kids love dinosaurs.)
10. Les musées sont pleins de surprises.
Pronunciation: lay moo-zay sohn plehn duh sir-preez
Meaning: Museums are full of surprises.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Ce musée a une section entière sur les dinosaures. (This museum has an entire section on dinosaurs.)
Person 2: Les musées sont pleins de surprises. (Museums are full of surprises.)
11. Quel est ton dinosaure préféré?
Pronunciation: kehl eh ton dee-noh-zohr pray-fay-ray
Meaning: What’s your favorite dinosaur?
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: J’adore les dinosaures! (I love dinosaurs!)
Person 2: Quel est ton dinosaure préféré? (What’s your favorite dinosaur?)
12. Les dinosaures sont si mystérieux.
Pronunciation: lay dee-noh-zohr sohn see mees-teh-ree-uh
Meaning: Dinosaurs are so mysterious.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Les dinosaures ont disparu il y a des millions d’années. (Dinosaurs disappeared millions of years ago.)
Person 2: Les dinosaures sont si mystérieux. (Dinosaurs are so mysterious.)
13. Les scientifiques en apprennent chaque jour.
Pronunciation: lay see-ahn-tee-feek ahn ah-prenn shahk zhoor
Meaning: Scientists learn about them every day.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Ils ont découvert une nouvelle espèce de dinosaure. (They discovered a new species of dinosaur.)
Person 2: Les scientifiques en apprennent chaque jour. (Scientists learn about them every day.)
14. Ces créatures étaient gigantesques!
Pronunciation: say kray-ah-tur ay-teh zhee-gahn-tesk
Meaning: These creatures were gigantic!
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Regarde ce modèle de dinosaure! (Look at this dinosaur model!)
Person 2: Ces créatures étaient gigantesques! (These creatures were gigantic!)
15. Les dinosaures nous aident à comprendre l’histoire.
Pronunciation: lay dee-noh-zohr noo zed ah kohm-pran-druh lees-twahr
Meaning: Dinosaurs help us understand history.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Pourquoi les dinosaures sont-ils importants? (Why are dinosaurs important?)
Person 2: Les dinosaures nous aident à comprendre l’histoire. (Dinosaurs help us understand history.)
Exercise to Practice Saying “Dinosaur” in French
Below are 12 fill-in-the-blank exercises to help you practice different ways to say “dinosaur” in French. Each sentence is entirely in French, and the English meaning is provided for context. After completing the exercise, check your answers below.
Fill-in-the-Blanks
- Au musée, nous avons vu un ______ fossile très ancien.
(At the museum, we saw a very old dinosaur fossil.) - Les enfants apprennent sur les ______ à plumes dans leur classe.
(The children are learning about feathered dinosaurs in their class.) - Un ______ carnivore est souvent présenté dans les films.
(A carnivorous dinosaur is often shown in movies.) - Les ______ terrestres étaient énormes et impressionnants.
(Land-dwelling dinosaurs were huge and impressive.) - Le squelette du ______ volant est bien préservé dans ce musée.
(The skeleton of the flying dinosaur is well-preserved in this museum.) - Les scientifiques ont découvert des traces de ______ dans le désert.
(Scientists discovered dinosaur tracks in the desert.) - Un ______ géant peut peser des tonnes!
(A giant dinosaur can weigh tons!) - Ce livre parle des espèces disparues comme les ______.
(This book talks about extinct species like dinosaurs.) - Les fossiles montrent qu’un ______ marin vivait ici.
(Fossils show that a marine dinosaur lived here.) - Connaissez-vous l’histoire des ______ préhistoriques?
(Do you know the history of prehistoric dinosaurs?) - Les ______ herbivores mangeaient des plantes et vivaient en groupes.
(Herbivorous dinosaurs ate plants and lived in groups.) - Le tricératops est un ______ à cornes célèbre.
(The triceratops is a famous horned dinosaur.)
Answers
- dinosaure
- dinosaures
- dinosaure
- dinosaures
- dinosaure
- dinosaures
- dinosaure
- dinosaures
- dinosaure
- dinosaures
- dinosaures
- dinosaure
Conclusion
Learning how to say “dinosaur” in French and exploring related expressions is a fun way to expand your vocabulary and understanding of the language. From the basic word “dinosaure” to specific phrases like “dinosaure à plumes” and “squelette de dinosaure,” you now have a variety of terms to use in different contexts.
Practicing these words and phrases will not only help you talk about these fascinating creatures but also make your French conversations more engaging. Whether you’re visiting a museum, reading a book, or simply chatting with friends, you’ll be ready to share your thoughts about dinosaurs confidently. Keep practicing, and enjoy exploring the amazing world of French language and dinosaurs!