Learning how to say “rat” in French can be helpful, especially if you are talking about animals or reading stories. French is a fun language, and knowing words for common animals makes conversations more interesting. “Rat” is a word that comes up in books, cartoons, and even when describing tricky situations.
In this article, you will learn how to say “rat” in French, discover related phrases like “ugly rat,” and see how to use them in sentences. You’ll also learn how to respond when someone mentions a rat and practice with some fun exercises. Let’s dive in and explore the French word for “rat”!
Ways to Say “Rat” in French
In French, the word “rat” is used in various contexts, from talking about the animal to describing tricky or sneaky behavior. Here are different ways to say “rat” in French, including related phrases and expressions.
1. Rat
Pronunciation: rah
Meaning: Rat (the animal)
In a Sentence:
- J’ai vu un rat dans la cuisine. (I saw a rat in the kitchen.)
- Le rat a couru dans le jardin. (The rat ran in the garden.)
2. Sale rat
Pronunciation: sahl rah
Meaning: Dirty rat (used as an insult)
In a Sentence:
- Ce sale rat a volé mon argent! (That dirty rat stole my money!)
- Ne fais pas confiance à ce sale rat. (Don’t trust that dirty rat.)
3. Rat d’égout
Pronunciation: rah day-goo
Meaning: Sewer rat
In a Sentence:
- J’ai peur des rats d’égout. (I’m afraid of sewer rats.)
- Le rat d’égout est énorme! (The sewer rat is huge!)
4. Petit rat
Pronunciation: puh-tee rah
Meaning: Little rat (sometimes used affectionately)
In a Sentence:
- Mon chat a attrapé un petit rat. (My cat caught a little rat.)
- Regarde ce petit rat curieux! (Look at that curious little rat!)
5. Vilain rat
Pronunciation: vee-lan rah
Meaning: Naughty rat (used to scold or insult)
In a Sentence:
- Tu es un vilain rat! (You’re a naughty rat!)
- Arrête de te comporter comme un vilain rat! (Stop acting like a naughty rat!)
6. Raton
Pronunciation: rah-tohn
Meaning: Young rat (rarely used)
In a Sentence:
- Le raton se cache dans le coin. (The young rat is hiding in the corner.)
- Ils ont trouvé un raton dans le grenier. (They found a young rat in the attic.)
7. Gros rat
Pronunciation: groh rah
Meaning: Big rat
In a Sentence:
- Il y avait un gros rat dans la rue. (There was a big rat in the street.)
- Le gros rat a effrayé les enfants. (The big rat scared the kids.)
8. Vieux rat
Pronunciation: vyuh rah
Meaning: Old rat (sometimes used metaphorically)
In a Sentence:
- Ce vieux rat connaît tous les secrets. (That old rat knows all the secrets.)
- Ne crois pas ce vieux rat rusé. (Don’t trust that cunning old rat.)
9. Rat rusé
Pronunciation: rah roo-zay
Meaning: Cunning rat
In a Sentence:
- C’est un vrai rat rusé! (He’s a real cunning rat!)
- Le rat rusé a réussi à s’échapper. (The cunning rat managed to escape.)
10. Rat malin
Pronunciation: rah mah-lan
Meaning: Clever rat
In a Sentence:
- Ce rat malin a trouvé le fromage. (That clever rat found the cheese.)
- Attention à ce rat malin! (Watch out for that clever rat!)
11. Rat furtif
Pronunciation: rah fur-teef
Meaning: Sneaky rat
In a Sentence:
- Le rat furtif s’est faufilé dans la maison. (The sneaky rat slipped into the house.)
- Un rat furtif a volé le pain. (A sneaky rat stole the bread.)
12. Mauvais rat
Pronunciation: moh-veh rah
Meaning: Bad rat (used as an insult)
In a Sentence:
- Ne fais pas confiance à ce mauvais rat! (Don’t trust that bad rat!)
- C’est un mauvais rat sans pitié. (He’s a ruthless bad rat.)
13. Sale petit rat
Pronunciation: sahl puh-tee rah
Meaning: Dirty little rat
In a Sentence:
- Ce sale petit rat a tout cassé! (That dirty little rat broke everything!)
- Tu agis comme un sale petit rat. (You’re acting like a dirty little rat.)
14. Rat effrayant
Pronunciation: rah eh-fray-ahn
Meaning: Scary rat
In a Sentence:
- Le rat effrayant est sorti de l’ombre. (The scary rat came out of the shadows.)
- J’ai crié quand j’ai vu ce rat effrayant! (I screamed when I saw that scary rat!)
15. Rat timide
Pronunciation: rah tee-meed
Meaning: Shy rat
In a Sentence:
- Le rat timide reste toujours caché. (The shy rat always stays hidden.)
- C’est un rat timide qui n’aime pas les gens. (It’s a shy rat that doesn’t like people.)
16. Rat affamé
Pronunciation: rah ah-fah-may
Meaning: Hungry rat
In a Sentence:
- Le rat affamé a mangé tout le pain. (The hungry rat ate all the bread.)
- Un rat affamé cherchait de la nourriture. (A hungry rat was looking for food.)
17. Voleur de rat
Pronunciation: voh-luhr duh rah
Meaning: Thieving rat
In a Sentence:
- Ce voleur de rat a pris mon sandwich! (That thieving rat took my sandwich!)
- Attention au voleur de rat! (Watch out for the thieving rat!)
18. Rat rusé et vilain
Pronunciation: rah roo-zay ay vee-lan
Meaning: Cunning and naughty rat
In a Sentence:
- C’est un rat rusé et vilain. (He’s a cunning and naughty rat.)
- Le rat rusé et vilain a encore causé des ennuis. (The cunning and naughty rat caused trouble again.)
19. Rat effrayant et sale
Pronunciation: rah eh-fray-ahn ay sahl
Meaning: Scary and dirty rat
In a Sentence:
- Le rat effrayant et sale vivait dans l’égout. (The scary and dirty rat lived in the sewer.)
- On a vu un rat effrayant et sale derrière la maison. (We saw a scary and dirty rat behind the house.)
20. Rat chanceux
Pronunciation: rah shan-suh
Meaning: Lucky rat
In a Sentence:
- Ce rat chanceux a trouvé beaucoup de nourriture. (That lucky rat found lots of food.)
- Le rat chanceux a survécu à la tempête. (The lucky rat survived the storm.)
21. Rat de bibliothèque
Pronunciation: rah duh bee-blee-oh-tehk
Meaning: Bookworm (literally “library rat,” used figuratively)
In a Sentence:
- Mon frère est un vrai rat de bibliothèque. (My brother is a real bookworm.)
- Elle passe des heures à lire comme un rat de bibliothèque. (She spends hours reading like a bookworm.)
22. Rat domestique
Pronunciation: rah doh-mess-teek
Meaning: Pet rat
In a Sentence:
- Mon cousin a un rat domestique. (My cousin has a pet rat.)
- Les rats domestiques sont intelligents et affectueux. (Pet rats are smart and affectionate.)
23. Rat perfide
Pronunciation: rah pehr-feed
Meaning: Treacherous rat (used metaphorically)
In a Sentence:
- Méfie-toi de ce rat perfide! (Beware of that treacherous rat!)
- C’est un rat perfide qui complote toujours quelque chose. (He’s a treacherous rat who’s always plotting something.)
24. Vieux rat rusé
Pronunciation: vyuh rah roo-zay
Meaning: Old cunning rat
In a Sentence:
- Le vieux rat rusé a trompé tout le monde. (The old cunning rat tricked everyone.)
- Il se comporte comme un vieux rat rusé. (He acts like an old cunning rat.)
25. Rat de laboratoire
Pronunciation: rah duh lah-boh-rah-twahr
Meaning: Lab rat (literally and figuratively)
In a Sentence:
- Les scientifiques ont étudié le rat de laboratoire. (The scientists studied the lab rat.)
- Je me sens comme un rat de laboratoire dans cette expérience. (I feel like a lab rat in this experiment.)
26. Rat courageux
Pronunciation: rah koo-rah-zhuh
Meaning: Brave rat
In a Sentence:
- Le rat courageux a traversé la rivière. (The brave rat crossed the river.)
- C’est un rat courageux qui n’a peur de rien! (He’s a brave rat who fears nothing!)
27. Rat nocturne
Pronunciation: rah nok-toorn
Meaning: Night rat (active at night)
In a Sentence:
- Le rat nocturne sort chercher de la nourriture. (The night rat comes out to search for food.)
- Les rats nocturnes vivent dans les villes. (Night rats live in cities.)
28. Rat solitaire
Pronunciation: rah soh-lee-tehr
Meaning: Lonely rat
In a Sentence:
- C’est un rat solitaire qui ne vit pas en groupe. (It’s a lonely rat that doesn’t live in a group.)
- Le rat solitaire errait dans les rues. (The lonely rat wandered the streets.)
Other Ways to Say “Rat” in French
Here’s a table of additional ways to say “rat” in French, along with pronunciations, meanings, and example sentences.
| Other Ways to Say | Pronunciation | Meaning | Example Sentences |
| Souris | soo-ree | Mouse | J’ai vu une souris dans le grenier. (I saw a mouse in the attic.) |
| Vermine | vehr-meen | Vermin (insult) | Cette vermine a encore volé du pain! (That vermin stole bread again!) |
| Raton laveur | rah-tohn lah-vuhr | Raccoon | Le raton laveur a fouillé les poubelles. (The raccoon rummaged through the trash.) |
| Rongeur | rohn-zhur | Rodent | Les rats sont des rongeurs intelligents. (Rats are smart rodents.) |
| Bestiole | bess-tee-ohl | Critter (informal) | Une bestiole a couru sous la table! (A critter ran under the table!) |
| Délinquant | deh-lan-kahn | Delinquent (figurative) | Ne sois pas un délinquant comme ce rat! (Don’t be a delinquent like that rat!) |
| Traître | treh-truh | Traitor (figurative) | C’est un vrai traître, comme un rat qui trahit ses amis. (He’s a real traitor, like a rat betraying friends.) |
| Opportuniste | oh-poor-too-neest | Opportunist (figurative) | Il est toujours opportuniste, comme un rat! (He’s always an opportunist, like a rat!) |
| Espion | es-pee-ohn | Spy (figurative) | Cet espion se cache comme un rat dans un trou. (That spy hides like a rat in a hole.) |
| Petite bête | puh-teet bet | Little creature | Regarde cette petite bête dans le jardin. (Look at that little creature in the garden.) |
Responses to “Rat” in French
When someone mentions a “rat” in French, the response can depend on the context. You might react with surprise, fear, or even humor. Here are some common responses you can use in different situations.
1. Oh là là!
Pronunciation: oh lah lah
Meaning: Oh my! (Expressing surprise)
In a Sentence:
- Oh là là! Un rat dans la maison! (Oh my! A rat in the house!)
2. Beurk!
Pronunciation: buhrk
Meaning: Yuck! (Expressing disgust)
In a Sentence:
- Beurk! Je déteste les rats! (Yuck! I hate rats!)
3. C’est dégoûtant!
Pronunciation: say day-goo-tahn
Meaning: That’s disgusting!
In a Sentence:
- Un rat dans la cuisine? C’est dégoûtant! (A rat in the kitchen? That’s disgusting!)
4. Quelle horreur!
Pronunciation: kehl oh-ruhr
Meaning: How awful!
In a Sentence:
- Quelle horreur! Un rat dans le salon! (How awful! A rat in the living room!)
5. Sérieusement?
Pronunciation: seh-ree-yuhz-mahn
Meaning: Seriously?
In a Sentence:
- Sérieusement? Tu as vu un rat dans le jardin? (Seriously? You saw a rat in the garden?)
6. Je n’y crois pas!
Pronunciation: zhuh nee krwah pah
Meaning: I can’t believe it!
In a Sentence:
- Je n’y crois pas! Un rat dans mon placard! (I can’t believe it! A rat in my closet!)
7. Attrape-le!
Pronunciation: ah-trap luh
Meaning: Catch it!
In a Sentence:
- Vite! Attrape-le avant qu’il ne s’échappe! (Quick! Catch it before it escapes!)
8. Attention!
Pronunciation: ah-tahn-syohn
Meaning: Watch out!
In a Sentence:
- Attention! Il y a un rat sous la table! (Watch out! There’s a rat under the table!)
9. Tu plaisantes?
Pronunciation: tew pleh-zahnt
Meaning: Are you joking?
In a Sentence:
- Tu plaisantes? Un rat ici? (Are you joking? A rat here?)
10. Quelle surprise!
Pronunciation: kehl sur-preez
Meaning: What a surprise!
In a Sentence:
- Quelle surprise de voir un rat dans le parc! (What a surprise to see a rat in the park!)
11. Mon Dieu!
Pronunciation: mohn dyuh
Meaning: My God! (Expressing shock)
In a Sentence:
- Mon Dieu! Ce rat est énorme! (My God! That rat is huge!)
12. Pas possible!
Pronunciation: pah poh-see-bluh
Meaning: Impossible! (Expressing disbelief)
In a Sentence:
- Pas possible! Un rat dans la voiture? (Impossible! A rat in the car?)
13. Quelle chance!
Pronunciation: kehl shahnss
Meaning: What luck! (Sarcastic or literal)
In a Sentence:
- Quelle chance de trouver un rat dans le garage! (What luck finding a rat in the garage!)
14. C’est incroyable!
Pronunciation: say tan-kroy-ah-bluh
Meaning: That’s unbelievable!
In a Sentence:
- C’est incroyable! Il y avait trois rats dans la cave! (That’s unbelievable! There were three rats in the basement!)
Exercise to Practice Saying “Rat” in French
Complete the sentences below using the correct French phrase for “rat” or related expressions. Choose from the following options:
Options:
- Rat
- Sale rat
- Rat d’égout
- Petit rat
- Vilain rat
- Gros rat
- Rat malin
- Rat effrayant
- Rat perfide
- Rat domestique
- Rat chanceux
- Rat courageux
Fill-in-the-Blank Sentences
- J’ai vu un _____ courir dans la rue. (I saw a _____ running in the street.)
- Ce _____ a volé mon morceau de fromage! (That _____ stole my piece of cheese!)
- Mon ami a un _____ comme animal de compagnie. (My friend has a _____ as a pet.)
- Attention! Il y a un _____ qui se cache derrière le canapé. (Watch out! There’s a _____ hiding behind the couch.)
- Ce _____ a survécu à l’inondation! (That _____ survived the flood!)
- Le chat a attrapé un _____ dans le jardin. (The cat caught a _____ in the garden.)
- Ce _____ trouve toujours un moyen de s’échapper. (That _____ always finds a way to escape.)
- Ne fais pas confiance à ce _____, il ment tout le temps! (Don’t trust that _____; he lies all the time!)
- Ils ont vu un _____ énorme près de la poubelle. (They saw a huge _____ near the trash can.)
- Le _____ explore la maison la nuit. (The _____ explores the house at night.)
- C’est un _____ qui n’a peur de rien! (He’s a _____ who fears nothing!)
- Quelle horreur! Un _____ est apparu dans la cave! (How awful! A _____ appeared in the basement!)
Answers with Meanings
- Rat (Rat)
- Sale rat (Dirty rat)
- Rat domestique (Pet rat)
- Rat effrayant (Scary rat)
- Rat chanceux (Lucky rat)
- Petit rat (Little rat)
- Rat malin (Clever rat)
- Rat perfide (Treacherous rat)
- Gros rat (Big rat)
- Rat nocturne (Night rat)
- Rat courageux (Brave rat)
- Rat d’égout (Sewer rat)
Conclusion
Learning how to say “rat” in French is both fun and useful. Whether you’re talking about the animal itself or using creative expressions, these phrases can help you sound more natural in conversations. French has many interesting ways to describe rats, from “rat malin” (clever rat) to “rat d’égout” (sewer rat).
By practicing these words and responses, you’ll become more confident when speaking French. Keep exploring new expressions, and you’ll be able to describe situations, tell stories, or even use humorous phrases with ease. Remember, the more you practice, the better you’ll get! Bon courage! (Good luck!)