Learning how to say “fox” in French is an exciting step if you’re trying to expand your language skills. It’s always fun to know how to talk about animals in different languages, especially when the words are easy to remember. In French, the word for “fox” has a distinct sound and is useful to know if you’re reading or watching stories in French.
Knowing how to say “fox” and other related words will help you understand animals in French culture and language. Whether you’re planning a trip to a French-speaking country or just curious, this simple word is a good start. Let’s dive into how to say “fox” in French and explore other ways to use the word in different contexts!
Ways to Say “Fox” in French
In French, the most common way to say “fox” is renard (pronounced: ruh-nahr). This word is used in everyday conversation when talking about the animal. However, there are other ways to refer to a fox depending on context or if you want to add a little flair to your language.
Here are some ways to say “fox” in French:
Renard (ruh-nahr)
- Meaning: The standard word for “fox”
- In a Sentence:
- Le renard court dans la forêt. (The fox is running in the forest.)
- J’ai vu un renard ce matin. (I saw a fox this morning.)
Renarde (ruh-nard)
- Meaning: A female fox (though “renard” can be used for both genders)
- In a Sentence:
- La renarde chasse dans les bois. (The female fox hunts in the woods.)
- Une renarde a été vue près du ruisseau. (A female fox was seen near the stream.)
Le goupil (gou-peel)
- Meaning: An older or literary word for “fox,” rarely used today but still known
- In a Sentence:
- Le goupil est rusé. (The fox is sly.)
- Dans les fables, le goupil trompe souvent ses ennemis. (In fables, the fox often tricks its enemies.)
Vulpes (vul-pess)
- Meaning: The scientific name for the genus of foxes
- In a Sentence:
- Le vulpes est un petit carnivore. (The fox is a small carnivore.)
- Il y a plusieurs espèces de vulpes dans le monde. (There are several species of foxes in the world.)
Le renardeau (ruh-nahr-doh)
- Meaning: A baby fox
- In a Sentence:
- Le renardeau suit sa mère. (The baby fox follows its mother.)
- Un renardeau est très mignon. (A baby fox is very cute.)
Rousselot (roo-suh-loh)
- Meaning: A playful, regional term for a fox
- In a Sentence:
- Un rousselot a été vu dans le jardin. (A fox was seen in the garden.)
- Les rousselots sont rusés. (The foxes are clever.)
Goupillette (gou-peel-yett)
- Meaning: A small or young fox (diminutive form of goupil)
- In a Sentence:
- La goupillette joue près du ruisseau. (The little fox plays near the stream.)
- Une goupillette a été aperçue hier. (A young fox was spotted yesterday.)
Fennec (feh-nek)
- Meaning: A type of small fox, especially the desert fox
- In a Sentence:
- Le fennec vit dans le désert. (The fennec lives in the desert.)
- Les fennecs ont de grandes oreilles. (Fennecs have big ears.)
Le renard polaire (ruh-nahr poh-lair)
- Meaning: The Arctic fox
- In a Sentence:
- Le renard polaire est adapté aux climats froids. (The Arctic fox is adapted to cold climates.)
- Les renards polaires ont un pelage blanc en hiver. (Arctic foxes have white fur in winter.)
Le renard gris (ruh-nahr gree)
- Meaning: The gray fox
- In a Sentence:
- Le renard gris est plus rare que le renard ordinaire. (The gray fox is rarer than the common fox.)
- Les renards gris vivent principalement en Amérique du Nord. (Gray foxes mostly live in North America.)
Le renard roux (ruh-nahr roo)
- Meaning: The red fox
- In a Sentence:
- Le renard roux est le plus commun en Europe. (The red fox is the most common in Europe.)
- Le renard roux a un pelage brillant. (The red fox has shiny fur.)
Le renard d’argent (ruh-nahr dahr-zhahn)
- Meaning: The silver fox
- In a Sentence:
- Le renard d’argent a un pelage foncé. (The silver fox has dark fur.)
- Les renards d’argent sont prisés pour leur fourrure. (Silver foxes are prized for their fur.)
Le renard de la toundra (ruh-nahr duh lah toon-drah)
- Meaning: The tundra fox
- In a Sentence:
- Le renard de la toundra survit dans les environnements froids. (The tundra fox survives in cold environments.)
- Les renards de la toundra ont un pelage épais. (Tundra foxes have thick fur.)
Le renard des sables (ruh-nahr day sah-bluh)
- Meaning: The sand fox
- In a Sentence:
- Le renard des sables est trouvé dans les régions désertiques. (The sand fox is found in desert regions.)
- Un renard des sables a été vu en Afrique du Nord. (A sand fox was seen in North Africa.)
Le renard fennec (ruh-nahr feh-nek)
- Meaning: The Fennec fox (also called a desert fox)
- In a Sentence:
- Un renard fennec est petit mais rapide. (A Fennec fox is small but quick.)
- Les renards fennec ont de grandes oreilles. (Fennec foxes have large ears.)
Le vulpin (vool-pan)
- Meaning: A literary term for a fox
- In a Sentence:
- Le vulpin est un personnage rusé dans les fables. (The fox is a sly character in fables.)
- Les vulpins sont célèbres dans les contes. (Foxes are famous in stories.)
Le renard sauvage (ruh-nahr sah-vahj)
- Meaning: The wild fox
- In a Sentence:
- Le renard sauvage vit dans les bois. (The wild fox lives in the woods.)
- Un renard sauvage a été aperçu la nuit. (A wild fox was spotted at night.)
Le renard rusé (ruh-nahr roo-zay)
- Meaning: The cunning fox (used metaphorically)
- In a Sentence:
- Il est aussi rusé qu’un renard rusé. (He is as sly as a cunning fox.)
- Elle a l’intelligence du renard rusé. (She has the intelligence of a cunning fox.)
Le renard nocturne (ruh-nahr nok-toor-nuh)
- Meaning: The nocturnal fox
- In a Sentence:
- Le renard nocturne sort la nuit pour chasser. (The nocturnal fox goes out at night to hunt.)
- Un renard nocturne a été entendu dans les bois. (A nocturnal fox was heard in the woods.)
Le renard de montagne (ruh-nahr duh mohn-tah-nuh)
- Meaning: The mountain fox
- In a Sentence:
- Le renard de montagne vit dans les zones rocheuses. (The mountain fox lives in rocky areas.)
- Un renard de montagne a été vu près des montagnes. (A mountain fox was seen near the mountains.)
Le renard argenté (ruh-nahr ahr-zhahn-tay)
- Meaning: The silver-coated fox
- In a Sentence:
- Le renard argenté est un animal élégant. (The silver-coated fox is an elegant animal.)
- Un renard argenté a été vu dans le parc. (A silver-coated fox was seen in the park.)
Le renard des bois (ruh-nahr day bwah)
- Meaning: The forest fox
- In a Sentence:
- Le renard des bois vit principalement dans les forêts. (The forest fox mainly lives in forests.)
- Les renards des bois sont difficiles à repérer. (Forest foxes are hard to spot.)
Le renard péruvien (ruh-nahr pay-roo-vee-ahn)
- Meaning: The Peruvian fox
- In a Sentence:
- Le renard péruvien est adapté aux montagnes. (The Peruvian fox is adapted to the mountains.)
- On peut trouver le renard péruvien dans les Andes. (The Peruvian fox can be found in the Andes.)
Le renard d’Asie (ruh-nahr dah-zee)
- Meaning: The Asian fox
- In a Sentence:
- Le renard d’Asie a un pelage unique. (The Asian fox has a unique fur coat.)
- On trouve le renard d’Asie dans les forêts tropicales. (The Asian fox is found in tropical forests.)
Le renard de praire (ruh-nahr duh prair)
- Meaning: The prairie fox
- In a Sentence:
- Le renard de praire chasse principalement dans les plaines. (The prairie fox mainly hunts in the plains.)
- Un renard de praire a été vu au lever du soleil. (A prairie fox was seen at sunrise.)
Le renard bleu (ruh-nahr bluh)
- Meaning: The blue fox (a rare type of fox)
- In a Sentence:
- Le renard bleu est une espèce très rare. (The blue fox is a very rare species.)
- Un renard bleu a été observé dans l’Arctique. (A blue fox was observed in the Arctic.)
Other Ways to Say “Fox” in French
Here are some other ways to say “fox” in French, listed in a table. These terms might be used in different contexts or have specific meanings.
| Other Ways to Say | Pronunciation | Meaning | Example Sentences |
| Le goupil | gou-peel | A traditional or literary term for a fox | Le goupil est un animal rusé. (The fox is a sly animal.)Il a raconté une histoire de goupil. (He told a story about a fox.) |
| Renard roux | ruh-nahr roo | The red fox (a common fox species) | J’ai vu un renard roux dans le jardin. (I saw a red fox in the garden.)Les renards roux sont fréquents en Europe. (Red foxes are common in Europe.) |
| Renard gris | ruh-nahr gree | The gray fox (a species found in North America) | Le renard gris chasse la nuit. (The gray fox hunts at night.)Il a aperçu un renard gris dans la forêt. (He spotted a gray fox in the forest.) |
| Renard polaire | ruh-nahr poh-lair | The Arctic fox | Le renard polaire vit dans les régions froides. (The Arctic fox lives in cold regions.)Un renard polaire a un pelage blanc en hiver. (An Arctic fox has white fur in winter.) |
| Le fennec | feh-nek | The desert fox (a small, desert-dwelling fox) | Le fennec a de grandes oreilles. (The fennec has big ears.)Les fennecs vivent dans les déserts. (Fennecs live in the deserts.) |
| Vulpes | vool-pess | The scientific genus name for foxes | Vulpes vulpes est un type de renard. (The red fox is a type of vulpes.)Les vulpes sont des carnivores. (Foxes are carnivores.) |
| Le goupillette | gou-peel-yett | A young or small fox | La goupillette suit sa mère. (The young fox follows its mother.)Une goupillette a été vue dans le champ. (A little fox was seen in the field.) |
| Renard sauvage | ruh-nahr sah-vahj | The wild fox | Le renard sauvage est difficile à trouver. (The wild fox is hard to find.)Un renard sauvage a été aperçu la nuit. (A wild fox was spotted at night.) |
| Renardeau | ruh-nahr-doh | A baby fox | Le renardeau est tout petit. (The baby fox is very small.)Les renardeaux grandissent vite. (Baby foxes grow up quickly.) |
| Renard de praire | ruh-nahr duh prair | The prairie fox | Un renard de praire a été vu dans la prairie. (A prairie fox was seen in the field.)Les renards de praire sont rares dans cette région. (Prairie foxes are rare in this area.) |
| Renard nocturne | ruh-nahr nok-toor-nuh | The nocturnal fox | Le renard nocturne chasse à la tombée de la nuit. (The nocturnal fox hunts at dusk.)Un renard nocturne a été entendu dans la forêt. (A nocturnal fox was heard in the woods.) |
| Le renard bleu | ruh-nahr bluh | A rare fox species with a blue-gray coat | Un renard bleu a été observé dans l’Arctique. (A blue fox was spotted in the Arctic.)Les renards bleus sont très rares. (Blue foxes are very rare.) |
| Renard rusé | ruh-nahr roo-zay | A sly or clever fox, used metaphorically | Il est aussi rusé qu’un renard rusé. (He is as clever as a sly fox.)Elle a l’esprit d’un renard rusé. (She has the mind of a clever fox.) |
| Renard d’Asie | ruh-nahr dah-zee | The Asian fox | Le renard d’Asie vit dans les montagnes. (The Asian fox lives in the mountains.)Les renards d’Asie ont un pelage plus foncé. (Asian foxes have darker fur.) |
| Renard de la toundra | ruh-nahr lah toon-drah | The tundra fox | Le renard de la toundra s’adapte aux climats froids. (The tundra fox adapts to cold climates.)On trouve le renard de la toundra dans le nord. (The tundra fox is found in the north.) |
| Renard argenté | ruh-nahr ahr-zhahn-tay | The silver fox | Le renard argenté a un pelage brillant. (The silver fox has a shiny fur coat.)Les renards argentés sont rares en nature. (Silver foxes are rare in nature.) |
Response to “Fox” in French
When someone says “fox” in French, you can respond in different ways depending on the context. Whether you are talking about the animal itself or referencing the metaphorical idea of a sly or clever creature, your response can vary. Here are some possible responses:
C’est un animal rusé.
- Meaning: It is a clever animal.
- In a Sentence:
- Le renard est très rusé, c’est pourquoi il est souvent représenté dans les fables. (The fox is very clever, which is why it is often depicted in fables.)
Il a un pelage magnifique.
- Meaning: It has beautiful fur.
- In a Sentence:
- Le renard roux a un pelage magnifique, surtout en hiver. (The red fox has beautiful fur, especially in the winter.)
Les renards sont souvent nocturnes.
- Meaning: Foxes are often nocturnal.
- In a Sentence:
- Les renards préfèrent chasser la nuit. (Foxes prefer to hunt at night.)
Les renards sont très rapides.
- Meaning: Foxes are very fast.
- In a Sentence:
- Un renard peut courir très vite pour échapper à un prédateur. (A fox can run very fast to escape a predator.)
Ils ont des oreilles très grandes.
- Meaning: They have very large ears.
- In a Sentence:
- Le fennec, par exemple, a des oreilles énormes. (The fennec, for example, has huge ears.)
Les renards peuvent être dangereux pour les poules.
- Meaning: Foxes can be dangerous for chickens.
- In a Sentence:
- Un renard a mangé plusieurs de nos poules la nuit dernière. (A fox ate several of our chickens last night.)
Il est aussi rusé qu’un renard!
- Meaning: He is as clever as a fox! (used metaphorically)
- In a Sentence:
- Regarde comment il a résolu le problème, il est aussi rusé qu’un renard! (Look at how he solved the problem, he is as clever as a fox!)
Les renards sont souvent vus dans les forêts.
- Meaning: Foxes are often seen in forests.
- In a Sentence:
- On peut apercevoir un renard dans la forêt la nuit. (You can spot a fox in the forest at night.)
Les renards mangent souvent des petits animaux.
- Meaning: Foxes often eat small animals.
- In a Sentence:
- Un renard pourrait chasser un lapin ou une souris. (A fox might hunt a rabbit or a mouse.)
C’est un symbole de la ruse.
- Meaning: It is a symbol of cleverness.
- In a Sentence:
- Dans beaucoup de fables, le renard est un symbole de la ruse. (In many fables, the fox is a symbol of cleverness.)
Exercise to Practice Saying “Fox” in French
Below are 12 fill-in-the-blank exercises in French using the ways to say “fox” that we have discussed. These exercises will help you practice and reinforce your understanding of the word “fox” in different contexts. Try to fill in each blank with the correct form of the word. After the exercises, you’ll find the answers along with their meanings.
Fill-in-the-Blank Sentences
- Le _______ vit dans les bois sombres.
- Ce _______ est très rusé et a échappé à l’attaque.
- Hier soir, j’ai vu un _______ près du ruisseau.
- Le _______ d’Asie est plus petit que les autres types de renards.
- Un _______ de la toundra a été aperçu lors de l’expédition.
- Le _______ a un pelage très brillant pendant l’hiver.
- Le _______ est souvent utilisé dans les fables comme symbole de la ruse.
- Le _______ a de très grandes oreilles pour l’aider à entendre.
- Le _______ a été vu en train de chasser dans la prairie.
- Un _______ a été vu près de la maison la nuit dernière.
- Le _______ des sables vit dans le désert chaud.
- Les _______ peuvent être trouvés dans les forêts d’Asie.
Answers and Meanings
- renard – The fox lives in the dark woods.
- renard – This fox is very clever and escaped the attack.
- renard polaire – I saw an Arctic fox near the stream.
- renard d’Asie – The Asian fox is smaller than other types of foxes.
- renard de la toundra – A tundra fox was spotted during the expedition.
- renard argenté – The silver fox has very shiny fur during winter.
- goupil – The fox is often used in fables as a symbol of cleverness.
- fennec – The fennec has very large ears to help it hear.
- renard de praire – The prairie fox was seen hunting in the field.
- renard nocturne – A nocturnal fox was seen near the house last night.
- renard des sables – The sand fox lives in the hot desert.
- renard d’Asie – Asian foxes can be found in forests of Asia.
Conclusion
Learning how to say “fox” in French is a fun and useful way to expand your vocabulary. By knowing different terms like renard, fennec, and goupil, you can speak more precisely about different types of foxes and their characteristics. Whether you’re talking about the clever renard in a story or the adorable renardeau, these words help you describe this fascinating animal in many ways.
Through this guide, you’ve also learned how to respond to discussions about foxes and practiced using these terms with fill-in-the-blank exercises. The more you use these words, the easier it will become to remember them and use them correctly in conversations. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll be talking about foxes in French like a native!