éléphant
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French
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”).
Pronunciation
Noun
éléphant m (plural éléphants, feminine éléphante)
Derived terms
- comme un éléphant dans un magasin de porcelaine
- éléphant blanc
- éléphant d’Afrique
- éléphant d’Asie
- éléphant de mer
- mémoire d’éléphant
- pattes d’éléphant
- pied d’éléphant
Descendants
Further reading
- “éléphant”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé , 2012.
Norman
Alternative forms
- êléphant (Jersey)
Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French elephant, itself a learned borrowing from Latin elephantus, from Ancient Greek ἐλέφας, ἐλέφαντος (eléphas, eléphantos).
Noun
éléphant m (plural éléphants)