Dolphins are fascinating creatures, often loved for their playful nature and intelligence. If you’re interested in the French language, you may want to know how to say “dolphin” in French. Whether you’re learning French for travel, school, or fun, knowing animal names is a great way to expand your vocabulary.
In French, the word for “dolphin” is simple to remember. But like many languages, French has different ways to refer to the same thing depending on the context. In this article, we will explore how to say “dolphin” in French, provide some other common ways to say it, and give examples of how you can use the word in everyday conversation. Let’s dive into learning more about this amazing marine animal in French!
Ways to Say “Dolphin” in French
In French, the word “dolphin” is typically translated as “dauphin.” However, there are other ways to refer to dolphins or related terms in French, depending on the context. Here are some ways to say “dolphin” in French, along with their pronunciation and examples of how to use them.
1. Dauphin (pronounced: /doe-fan/)
- Meaning: The most common word for dolphin in French.
- In a Sentence:
- Le dauphin nage dans l’océan. (The dolphin swims in the ocean.)
- Les dauphins sont très intelligents. (Dolphins are very intelligent.)
2. Dauphin rose (pronounced: /doe-fan roz/)
- Meaning: Pink river dolphin, a species found in the Amazon River.
- In a Sentence:
- Le dauphin rose vit dans l’Amazonie. (The pink dolphin lives in the Amazon.)
- Les dauphins roses sont menacés. (Pink dolphins are endangered.)
3. Dauphin de rivière (pronounced: /doe-fan duh ree-vyer/)
- Meaning: River dolphin, a type of dolphin that lives in freshwater rivers.
- In a Sentence:
- Le dauphin de rivière est souvent vu en Asie. (The river dolphin is often seen in Asia.)
- Il y a plusieurs espèces de dauphins de rivière. (There are several species of river dolphins.)
4. Tursiops truncatus (pronounced: /tur-see-ops troon-kah-tus/)
- Meaning: The scientific name of the bottlenose dolphin, the most common dolphin species.
- In a Sentence:
- Le Tursiops truncatus est très populaire dans les aquariums. (The bottlenose dolphin is very popular in aquariums.)
- Les Tursiops truncatus sont connus pour leur intelligence. (Bottlenose dolphins are known for their intelligence.)
5. Orque (pronounced: /ork/)
- Meaning: While “orque” refers to an orca (also called a killer whale), which is a member of the dolphin family, this term is sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to large dolphins.
- In a Sentence:
- L’orque est le plus grand membre de la famille des dauphins. (The orca is the largest member of the dolphin family.)
- Les orques vivent dans l’océan Atlantique. (Orcas live in the Atlantic Ocean.)
6. Grampus (pronounced: /gram-pus/)
- Meaning: Another term sometimes used for certain species of dolphins, like the Risso’s dolphin.
- In a Sentence:
- Le grampus est rarement vu dans les eaux côtières. (The grampus is rarely seen in coastal waters.)
- Les grampus sont plus petits que les dauphins communs. (Grampus are smaller than common dolphins.)
7. Dauphin commun (pronounced: /doe-fan koh-mewn/)
- Meaning: Common dolphin, a species found in oceans worldwide.
- In a Sentence:
- Le dauphin commun est très répandu dans les océans. (The common dolphin is widespread in the oceans.)
- Les dauphins communs vivent en groupes. (Common dolphins live in groups.)
8. Dauphin à gros nez (pronounced: /doe-fan ah grow nay/)
- Meaning: Bottlenose dolphin (literally, “dolphin with a big nose”).
- In a Sentence:
- Les dauphins à gros nez sont faciles à reconnaître. (Bottlenose dolphins are easy to recognize.)
- Le dauphin à gros nez est l’une des espèces les plus connues. (The bottlenose dolphin is one of the most well-known species.)
9. Dauphin de l’Indo-Pacifique (pronounced: /doe-fan duh lan-doh-pah-sifik/)
- Meaning: Indo-Pacific dolphin, a species found in the Indo-Pacific region.
- In a Sentence:
- Le dauphin de l’Indo-Pacifique est souvent vu près des côtes. (The Indo-Pacific dolphin is often seen near the coasts.)
- Les dauphins de l’Indo-Pacifique préfèrent les eaux chaudes. (Indo-Pacific dolphins prefer warm waters.)
10. Dauphin du Pacifique (pronounced: /doe-fan dew pah-see-feek/)
- Meaning: Pacific dolphin, a dolphin species found in the Pacific Ocean.
- In a Sentence:
- Le dauphin du Pacifique peut sauter très haut. (The Pacific dolphin can jump very high.)
- Les dauphins du Pacifique sont souvent vus lors des croisières. (Pacific dolphins are often seen during cruises.)
11. Dauphin de l’Atlantique (pronounced: /doe-fan duh laht-lahn-teek/)
- Meaning: Atlantic dolphin, a species that lives in the Atlantic Ocean.
- In a Sentence:
- Le dauphin de l’Atlantique nage souvent près des bateaux. (The Atlantic dolphin often swims near boats.)
- Les dauphins de l’Atlantique aiment les eaux froides. (Atlantic dolphins like cold waters.)
12. Dauphin de l’océan Indien (pronounced: /doe-fan duh lo-seh-an een-dee-en/)
- Meaning: Indian Ocean dolphin, found in the Indian Ocean.
- In a Sentence:
- Le dauphin de l’océan Indien est moins courant que celui de l’Atlantique. (The Indian Ocean dolphin is less common than the Atlantic one.)
- Les dauphins de l’océan Indien sont magnifiques. (Dolphins of the Indian Ocean are beautiful.)
13. Dauphin mignon (pronounced: /doe-fan meen-yon/)
- Meaning: Cute dolphin, a more informal or affectionate term.
- In a Sentence:
- Le dauphin mignon fait sourire tout le monde. (The cute dolphin makes everyone smile.)
- J’ai vu un dauphin mignon dans un documentaire. (I saw a cute dolphin in a documentary.)
14. Dauphin de Patagonie (pronounced: /doe-fan duh pah-tah-go-nee/)
- Meaning: Patagonian dolphin, a species from the southern part of South America.
- In a Sentence:
- Le dauphin de Patagonie vit dans les eaux froides. (The Patagonian dolphin lives in cold waters.)
- Les dauphins de Patagonie sont rares. (Patagonian dolphins are rare.)
15. Dauphin de Hector (pronounced: /doe-fan duh hek-tor/)
- Meaning: Hector’s dolphin, a small species from New Zealand.
- In a Sentence:
- Le dauphin de Hector est l’un des plus petits dauphins. (Hector’s dolphin is one of the smallest dolphins.)
- Le dauphin de Hector est une espèce en danger. (Hector’s dolphin is an endangered species.)
16. Dauphin de Maui (pronounced: /doe-fan duh mao-wee/)
- Meaning: Maui’s dolphin, a rare species from New Zealand.
- In a Sentence:
- Le dauphin de Maui est presque éteint. (Maui’s dolphin is almost extinct.)
- Les dauphins de Maui sont protégés par des lois strictes. (Maui’s dolphins are protected by strict laws.)
17. Dauphin de Risso (pronounced: /doe-fan duh ree-soh/)
- Meaning: Risso’s dolphin, a species with a distinctive appearance due to scars.
- In a Sentence:
- Le dauphin de Risso est facilement reconnaissable grâce à ses cicatrices. (Risso’s dolphin is easily recognizable due to its scars.)
- Les dauphins de Risso sont souvent vus dans les mers tempérées. (Risso’s dolphins are often seen in temperate seas.)
18. Sous-dauphin (pronounced: /soo-doe-fan/)
- Meaning: Underwater dolphin, a less common term sometimes used to refer to dolphins that dwell in deeper waters.
- In a Sentence:
- Le sous-dauphin vit à des profondeurs plus grandes. (The underwater dolphin lives at greater depths.)
- J’ai vu un sous-dauphin lors de l’excursion sous-marine. (I saw an underwater dolphin on the submarine excursion.)
19. Dauphin de Noël (pronounced: /doe-fan duh no-el/)
- Meaning: Christmas dolphin, a poetic or festive name for dolphins seen during the holiday season.
- In a Sentence:
- Les dauphins de Noël décorent les cartes de vœux. (Christmas dolphins decorate the greeting cards.)
- Les dauphins de Noël sont un symbole de joie et de paix. (Christmas dolphins are a symbol of joy and peace.)
20. Dauphin géant (pronounced: /doe-fan jee-ahnt/)
- Meaning: Giant dolphin, referring to larger species like the orca.
- In a Sentence:
- L’orque est souvent appelé dauphin géant. (The orca is often called the giant dolphin.)
- Les dauphins géants peuvent mesurer jusqu’à huit mètres. (Giant dolphins can measure up to eight meters.)
21. Dauphin curieux (pronounced: /doe-fan koo-ree-uh/)
- Meaning: Curious dolphin, referring to dolphins known for their inquisitive nature.
- In a Sentence:
- Le dauphin curieux s’approche souvent des bateaux. (The curious dolphin often approaches boats.)
- Les dauphins curieux sont connus pour interagir avec les humains. (Curious dolphins are known to interact with humans.)
22. Dauphin pacifique (pronounced: /doe-fan pah-see-feek/)
- Meaning: Peaceful dolphin, a poetic way to describe dolphins.
- In a Sentence:
- Le dauphin pacifique symbolise l’harmonie de l’océan. (The peaceful dolphin symbolizes the harmony of the ocean.)
- Les dauphins pacifiques vivent dans les eaux calmes. (Peaceful dolphins live in calm waters.)
23. Dauphin marin (pronounced: /doe-fan mah-ran/)
- Meaning: Marine dolphin, referring to dolphins that live in the sea.
- In a Sentence:
- Le dauphin marin est une espèce que l’on trouve souvent près des côtes. (The marine dolphin is a species found often near the coasts.)
- Les dauphins marins sont très agiles. (Marine dolphins are very agile.)
24. Dauphin blanc (pronounced: /doe-fan blahn/)
- Meaning: White dolphin, sometimes used to describe lighter-colored dolphin species.
- In a Sentence:
- Le dauphin blanc est rare mais fascinant. (The white dolphin is rare but fascinating.)
- On a aperçu un dauphin blanc lors de l’excursion. (We spotted a white dolphin during the excursion.)
25. Dauphin de l’Arctique (pronounced: /doe-fan duh l’ark-teek/)
- Meaning: Arctic dolphin, a term used for dolphins found in colder waters like the Arctic Ocean.
- In a Sentence:
- Le dauphin de l’Arctique est adapté aux eaux glacées. (The Arctic dolphin is adapted to icy waters.)
- Les dauphins de l’Arctique sont rarement vus en dehors des régions polaires. (Arctic dolphins are rarely seen outside polar regions.)
Other Ways to Say “Dolphin” in French
Below is a table of other ways to say “dolphin” in French, along with pronunciation, meanings, and example sentences. These alternatives cover a range of terms that refer to different species, sizes, or specific characteristics of dolphins.
| Other ways to say | Pronunciation | Meaning | Example Sentences |
| Dauphin de l’océan Atlantique | /doe-fan duh lo-seh-an at-lahn-teek/ | Atlantic Ocean dolphin | Le dauphin de l’océan Atlantique vit près des côtes. (The Atlantic dolphin lives near the coasts.) |
| Grand dauphin | /grahn doe-fan/ | Large dolphin | Le grand dauphin est plus rapide que les petits dauphins. (The large dolphin is faster than the small dolphins.) |
| Dauphin enjoué | /doe-fan ahn-zhoo-ay/ | Playful dolphin | Le dauphin enjoué fait des sauts incroyables. (The playful dolphin does incredible jumps.) |
| Dauphin des mers chaudes | /doe-fan day mehr shawd/ | Warm water dolphin | Le dauphin des mers chaudes aime les températures élevées. (The warm-water dolphin likes high temperatures.) |
| Dauphin gris | /doe-fan gree/ | Grey dolphin (a reference to color or species) | Le dauphin gris est souvent vu près des îles. (The grey dolphin is often seen near the islands.) |
| Dauphin à ventre blanc | /doe-fan ah vahn-truh blahn/ | White-bellied dolphin | Le dauphin à ventre blanc vit dans l’Atlantique. (The white-bellied dolphin lives in the Atlantic.) |
| Dauphin d’Amazonie | /doe-fan dah-mah-zoh-nee/ | Amazon River dolphin | Le dauphin d’Amazonie est connu pour sa couleur rose. (The Amazon dolphin is known for its pink color.) |
| Dauphin à bec court | /doe-fan ah bek koor/ | Short-beaked dolphin | Le dauphin à bec court vit dans les mers du sud. (The short-beaked dolphin lives in southern seas.) |
| Dauphin des Caraïbes | /doe-fan day kah-ray-eeb/ | Caribbean dolphin | Les dauphins des Caraïbes sont très sociaux. (Caribbean dolphins are very social.) |
| Dauphin de l’île de Vancouver | /doe-fan duh leel duh van-kew-ver/ | Vancouver Island dolphin | On a vu un dauphin de l’île de Vancouver pendant nos vacances. (We saw a Vancouver Island dolphin during our vacation.) |
| Dauphin bleu | /doe-fan bloo/ | Blue dolphin (referring to a specific type) | Le dauphin bleu est une espèce rare mais magnifique. (The blue dolphin is a rare but beautiful species.) |
| Dauphin joueur | /doe-fan zhoo-er/ | Playful dolphin | Le dauphin joueur aime sauter par-dessus les vagues. (The playful dolphin loves jumping over waves.) |
| Dauphin de la mer du Nord | /doe-fan duh lah mehr dew nor/ | North Sea dolphin | Le dauphin de la mer du Nord préfère les eaux froides. (The North Sea dolphin prefers cold waters.) |
| Dauphin à dos sombre | /doe-fan ah daw som-bruh/ | Dark-backed dolphin | Le dauphin à dos sombre nage dans les océans profonds. (The dark-backed dolphin swims in deep oceans.) |
| Dauphin aux nageoires pointues | /doe-fan oh nah-zhwar pwah-yoo/ | Dolphin with pointed fins | Les dauphins aux nageoires pointues se déplacent très vite. (Dolphins with pointed fins move very quickly.) |
| Dauphin à queue courte | /doe-fan ah koo kort/ | Short-tailed dolphin | Le dauphin à queue courte vit dans les eaux tropicales. (The short-tailed dolphin lives in tropical waters.) |
| Dauphin sans dents | /doe-fan sahn dahn/ | Toothless dolphin (referring to some species that appear toothless or don’t show teeth) | Le dauphin sans dents se nourrit de poissons petits. (The toothless dolphin feeds on small fish.) |
| Dauphin d’eau douce | /doe-fan doh doo-s/ | Freshwater dolphin | Le dauphin d’eau douce est menacé à cause de la pollution. (The freshwater dolphin is threatened by pollution.) |
| Dauphin à long bec | /doe-fan ah lohn bek/ | Long-beaked dolphin | Le dauphin à long bec nage dans les mers plus froides. (The long-beaked dolphin swims in colder seas.) |
| Dauphin nageur d’élite | /doe-fan nah-zhwer day-leet/ | Elite swimmer dolphin | Le dauphin nageur d’élite est connu pour sa rapidité. (The elite swimmer dolphin is known for its speed.) |
Response to “Dolphin” in French
When someone says “dolphin” in French, there are various ways to respond depending on the context. Here are some common responses to the word “dauphin” in French, along with examples to help you practice.
1. Oui, j’aime les dauphins !
Pronunciation: /wee, zhaym lay doe-fan/
Meaning: Yes, I like dolphins!
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: “Les dauphins sont fascinants !” (Dolphins are fascinating!)
- Person 2: “Oui, j’aime les dauphins !” (Yes, I like dolphins!)
This is a simple, enthusiastic response when someone mentions dolphins.
2. J’ai vu un dauphin au zoo.
Pronunciation: /zhay voo uh doe-fan oh zoo/
Meaning: I saw a dolphin at the zoo.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: “Les dauphins sont si mignons !” (Dolphins are so cute!)
- Person 2: “J’ai vu un dauphin au zoo.” (I saw a dolphin at the zoo.)
This response shares a personal experience with dolphins.
3. Les dauphins sont très intelligents.
Pronunciation: /lay doe-fan sohn treh an-teh-lee-zhaw/
Meaning: Dolphins are very intelligent.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: “Tu savais que les dauphins peuvent communiquer ?” (Did you know dolphins can communicate?)
- Person 2: “Oui, les dauphins sont très intelligents.” (Yes, dolphins are very intelligent.)
This is a factual response that highlights dolphins’ intelligence.
4. Les dauphins vivent dans l’océan.
Pronunciation: /lay doe-fan veev duh lo-seh-an/
Meaning: Dolphins live in the ocean.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: “Où vivent les dauphins ?” (Where do dolphins live?)
- Person 2: “Les dauphins vivent dans l’océan.” (Dolphins live in the ocean.)
This answer provides an informative response to the question about dolphins’ habitat.
5. Je voudrais nager avec des dauphins.
Pronunciation: /zhuh voo-dray nah-zhay ah-vek day doe-fan/
Meaning: I would like to swim with dolphins.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: “Nager avec des dauphins semble amusant !” (Swimming with dolphins seems fun!)
- Person 2: “Je voudrais nager avec des dauphins.” (I would like to swim with dolphins.)
This response expresses a personal desire or dream about dolphins.
6. Est-ce que les dauphins sont en danger ?
Pronunciation: /ehs-kuh lay doe-fan sohn ahn dahn-zhay/
Meaning: Are dolphins in danger?
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: “Les dauphins sont de plus en plus rares.” (Dolphins are becoming more and more rare.)
- Person 2: “Est-ce que les dauphins sont en danger ?” (Are dolphins in danger?)
This response brings attention to the conservation status of dolphins.
7. J’ai adoré le spectacle de dauphins !
Pronunciation: /zhay ah-doh-ray luh spek-tah-kl duh doe-fan/
Meaning: I loved the dolphin show!
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: “Tu es allé au spectacle de dauphins ?” (Did you go to the dolphin show?)
- Person 2: “J’ai adoré le spectacle de dauphins !” (I loved the dolphin show!)
This response expresses enjoyment after seeing dolphins perform.
8. Les dauphins peuvent faire des sauts incroyables !
Pronunciation: /lay doe-fan puhv fair day soh ahn-kroy-ah-bluh/
Meaning: Dolphins can do incredible jumps!
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: “Regarde ces dauphins sauter !” (Look at those dolphins jumping!)
- Person 2: “Les dauphins peuvent faire des sauts incroyables !” (Dolphins can do incredible jumps!)
This response is about the dolphins’ amazing physical abilities.
9. J’ai un jouet de dauphin à la maison.
Pronunciation: /zhay uh zhoo-ay duh doe-fan ah lah may-zon/
Meaning: I have a dolphin toy at home.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: “Les dauphins sont ton animal préféré ?” (Are dolphins your favorite animal?)
- Person 2: “J’ai un jouet de dauphin à la maison.” (I have a dolphin toy at home.)
This response highlights a personal connection with dolphins, even through a toy.
10. J’ai vu un dauphin dans la mer !
Pronunciation: /zhay voo uh doe-fan dahn lah mehr/
Meaning: I saw a dolphin in the sea!
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: “Où as-tu vu un dauphin ?” (Where did you see a dolphin?)
- Person 2: “J’ai vu un dauphin dans la mer !” (I saw a dolphin in the sea!)
This response shares an exciting experience of seeing a dolphin.
Exercise to Practice Saying “Dolphin” in French
Here is an exercise with fill-in-the-blank sentences using the ways to say “dolphin” in French that were covered earlier. Try to fill in the blanks with the correct term for “dolphin.”
Fill-in-the-Blank Sentences:
- Le ________ nage près du rivage.
(The ________ swims near the shore.) - J’ai vu un ________ dans la mer des Caraïbes.
(I saw a ________ in the Caribbean Sea.) - Les ________ de l’Atlantique sont assez nombreux.
(The ________ of the Atlantic are quite numerous.) - Un ________ de rivière vit dans l’Amazonie.
(A ________ lives in the Amazon.) - Le ________ de l’Indo-Pacifique préfère les eaux chaudes.
(The ________ from the Indo-Pacific prefers warm waters.) - Les ________ à gros nez sont très populaires dans les parcs aquatiques.
(The ________ are very popular in water parks.) - Le ________ de l’île de Vancouver est rarement vu dans l’océan Atlantique.
(The ________ from Vancouver Island is rarely seen in the Atlantic Ocean.) - Le ________ de l’océan Indien aime nager dans les eaux profondes.
(The ________ from the Indian Ocean likes to swim in deep waters.) - Les ________ de l’Amazonie sont souvent roses.
(The ________ from the Amazon are often pink.) - Le ________ de l’Arctique est un animal rare.
(The ________ from the Arctic is a rare animal.) - Un ________ de Noël peut être un beau cadeau pour un enfant.
(A ________ of Christmas can be a nice gift for a child.) - Le ________ bleu nage à une grande vitesse.
(The ________ swims at great speed.)
Answers:
- dauphin commun
- dauphin des Caraïbes
- dauphins de l’Atlantique
- dauphin de rivière
- dauphin de l’Indo-Pacifique
- dauphins à gros nez
- dauphin de l’île de Vancouver
- dauphin de l’océan Indien
- dauphins de l’Amazonie
- dauphin de l’Arctique
- dauphin de Noël
- dauphin bleu
Conclusion
In this article, we’ve explored various ways to say “dolphin” in French, from the most common term dauphin to different species and types, such as dauphin de l’Indo-Pacifique and dauphin de l’Amazonie. By understanding these terms, you can better describe dolphins in a variety of contexts, whether you’re talking about specific species or referring to dolphins in general.
Practicing these terms through exercises can help improve your French vocabulary and understanding of marine life. Whether you’re planning to visit French-speaking countries, watching documentaries, or simply trying to expand your language skills, knowing how to talk about dolphins in French can be both fun and useful. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll be able to use these terms naturally in conversations!