Skip to content

jungle

jungle

noun ZHUN-gluh Less Common

Usage Note

Jungle entered French from English, which borrowed it from Hindi jangal. It is used both for literal tropical forest and figuratively for any chaotic, cut-throat environment, as in la jungle des affaires ('the business jungle'). The phrase la loi de la jungle ('the law of the jungle') is common in French too.

Examples

"Ils traversent la jungle en pirogue."

Natural Translation

They cross the jungle by dugout canoe.

Explore French by topic