renne

reindeer

noun REN Rare

Origin: Old Norse hreinn (reindeer)

Usage Note

Renne is always masculine in French despite ending in -e. It refers to both wild caribou and semi-domesticated reindeer herded by the Sami people of Scandinavia and Russia. In French popular culture, le renne is associated with the Christmas sleigh legend (les rennes du Père Noël). The species is Rangifer tarandus in zoology.

Examples

"Le renne tire le traîneau dans la neige."

Natural Translation

The reindeer pulls the sled through the snow.

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