dauphin

dolphin

noun doh-FAN Rare

Also means

dauphin (heir to French throne)

Usage Note

Dauphin has two distinct senses: the marine mammal dauphin (dolphin) and the historical title for the heir to the French throne, who was called le Dauphin. The title originated from the Dauphiné region of France, whose emblem was a dolphin. Today the word is almost always used for the animal, though the historical sense appears in history lessons and media.

Examples

"Un dauphin nage près du bateau."

Natural Translation

A dolphin swims near the boat.

Free starter pack

Building your French vocabulary?

Get the 100 most common French words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.

Related Words

Explore French by topic

FrenchNow

French Numbers 70, 80, 90 Made Simple

French numbers 70, 80, 90 are soixante-dix, quatre-vingts, and quatre-vingt-dix. Learn three build formulas to make any number 70-99 on the fly.

June 3, 2026 5 min read

FrenchNow

How to Say "I Miss You" in French (Without Errors)

"I miss you" in French is Tu me manques, not Je te manque. Learn the subject-flip behind manquer so you never text the opposite of what you mean.

June 4, 2026 6 min read

FrenchNow

French Adjective Placement: Before or After the Noun?

French adjectives usually follow the noun, but a small common set goes before it — and a few change meaning depending on which side they sit. Here's the rule.

June 4, 2026 5 min read

FrenchNow

Tu vs Vous: When to Use Each in French

Tu vs vous in French: use tu for one friend, family, or child, and vous for strangers, elders, your boss, and any group. A clear etiquette guide.

June 3, 2026 6 min read