cigale

cicada

noun see-GAHL Rare

Origin: Latin cicada

Usage Note

Cigale is famous in French culture through La Fontaine's fable La Cigale et la Fourmi ('The Cicada and the Ant'), a story about improvidence. The insect's song is strongly associated with summer in Provence, making cigale a cultural symbol of the Mediterranean South.

Examples

"Les cigales chantent toute la journée en été."

Natural Translation

The cicadas sing all day in summer.

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