15 Enchantingly Expressive French Animal Names

It’s often claimed that the French language adds a touch of elegance to everything, and animal names are no different. Whether it’s raccoon, starfish, moth, or mayfly, these titles carry a unique je ne sais quoi that might just make you favor them over their English (or even Irish) equivalents.

1. Un paresseux

English translation: “sloth”

The sloth often gets a bad rap for being lazy—but their slow pace is due to a low metabolic rate and the need to conserve energy. Sadly, this characteristic is reflected in their name: In English, the term sloth originated in the 12th century and was first applied to the animal in the 17th century. Similarly, the French word for sloth doubles as an adjective meaning “lazy” or “sluggish.”

2. Un glouton

English translation: “wolverine”

French offers two terms for wolverine: carcajou and glouton. The latter also serves as an adjective meaning “gluttonous” or “greedy.” While the English name doesn’t hint at its appetite, the wolverine’s scientific name, Gulo gulo, literally means “glutton glutton” in Latin. As per National Geographic, this name likely stems from the wolverine’s behavior: “Living in expansive, food-scarce territories, wolverines consume as much as possible when they find food, often returning to a carcass repeatedly until nothing remains.”

3. Une chauve-souris

English translation: “bat”

The French word for bat, une chauve-souris, directly means “bald mouse,” which is puzzling since bats are neither rodents nor hairless. One theory suggests the name could have originated from a mistranslation during the Roman era: In Vulgar Latin, bats were called “cawa sorix” (“owl mouse”), but over time, cawa evolved into calva, meaning “bald.” It’s as if a game of telephone went awry.

4. Un raton laveur

English translation: “raccoon”

The French term for these clever critters translates to “washing rat,” inspired by their habit of dampening their food before consuming it. (Though it’s not actual washing—they’re simply improving their sense of touch.) The English word raccoon comes from the Algonquian language of the Powhatan people, where aroughcun and aroughcoune mean “an animal that rubs, scrubs, and scratches with its hands.”

5. Une chouette

English translation: “owl”

In French, chouette not only means “owl” but also serves as an adjective meaning “brilliant” or “fantastic.” While the term doesn’t emphasize any particular trait of owls, most would agree that owls are truly remarkable. If you’re visiting France and want to talk about owls, note that chouette refers specifically to owls without ear tufts, whereas hibou is used for those with them.

6. Une méduse

English translation: “jellyfish”

In French, Méduse also refers to Medusa, the Gorgon from Greek mythology known for her snake-covered hair and the power to turn onlookers into stone. The tentacles of a jellyfish are thought to mirror Medusa’s serpentine locks, which is how they earned their name.

7. Un papillon de nuit

English translation: “moth”

Moths often receive a bad reputation as unattractive nuisances—a label that’s unjust (they play a crucial role in the food chain and act as pollinators) and starkly contrasts with the admiration butterflies receive, despite belonging to the same insect order. The French term for moth, un papillon de nuit, translates to “butterfly of the night,” offering a charming perspective on moths and helping to improve their misunderstood image.

8. Un hérisson

English translation: “hedgehog”

The French term for hedgehog is delightfully vivid: The verb hérisser means “to bristle” or “to make stand upright,” perfectly describing the spines of these spiky creatures. The noun hérisson also carries additional, less common meanings, such as referring to a grumpy person—fitting, as we often describe irritable individuals as “prickly” or “sharp.”

9. Un porc-épic

English translation: “porcupine”

While porc-épic might seem to mean “epic pig,” it actually stems from the Italian porcospino, meaning “spiny pig.” Originally porc espi, the term evolved over time. Many other Romance languages also incorporate the idea of “spines” in the porcupine’s name. Like hérisson, porc-épic can also be slang to describe someone with a prickly personality—or even a person with stubble.

10. Un rouge-gorge

English translation: “robin”

The French term for robin combines rouge (“red”) and gorge (“throat”), literally meaning “red throat.” (Interestingly, in many regions, the robin is known as “robin redbreast.”) The European robin is an Old World flycatcher, while its American counterpart is a thrush. European settlers named the American bird after its resemblance to the familiar European robin.

11. Un oiseau-mouche

English translation: “hummingbird”

In French, the hummingbird has two names: colibri, which is simple, and oiseau-mouche, which literally means “bird fly” (oiseau for “bird” and mouche for “fly”). This name likely comes from the hummingbird’s tiny size (not quite as small as a fly, but still very small) and the rapid flapping of its wings, producing a humming noise similar to a fly’s buzz.

12. Une éphémère

English translation: “mayfly”

As an adjective, éphémère translates to “ephemeral” or “short-lived,” a poignant description for mayflies: They spend the majority of their lives underwater as nymphs but only survive about a day as adults before their time ends. Perhaps they remind us to make the most of every moment?

13. Une sauterelle

English translation: “grasshopper”

The French term for grasshopper stems from the verb sauter, which means “to jump.” The suffix -elle is a diminutive, so sauterelle can be interpreted as “little jumper.”

14. Un sanglier

English translation: “wild boar”

The term sanglier originates from the Vulgar Latin singularis porcus, meaning “solitary pig.” In the 14th century, un porc sanglier was still in use in French, but eventually, the porc was omitted, leaving sanglier—highlighting the animal’s solitary nature rather than its pig-like qualities. This is somewhat ironic, as pigs are generally social creatures; it’s typically only the males who roam alone when seeking a mate.

15. Une étoile de mer

English translation: “starfish”

This one is quite straightforward: Étoile de mer translates literally to “star of the sea” (from étoile for star and mer for sea), which sounds far more enchanting and whimsical than the English term starfish—don’t you think?