Skip to content

zibeline

sable (animal or fur)

noun zee-beh-LEEN Rare

Usage Note

Zibeline refers to the sable, a small carnivorous mammal of Siberia prized for its exceptionally fine dark fur. The word is also used adjectivally for the fur itself, as in un manteau de zibeline ('a sable coat'). Historically, sable pelts were a luxury export of the Russian Empire and remain among the most expensive furs.

Examples

"La zibeline vit dans les forêts de Sibérie."

Natural Translation

The sable lives in the forests of Siberia.

Free starter pack

Building your French vocabulary?

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

Explore French by topic