Cygne (en. Swan)

/siɲ/

Meaning & Definition

EnglishFrench

noun

Aquatic bird of the family Anatidae, characterized by a long neck and generally white plumage.

The majestic swan glided across the lake in search of food.

Le cygne majestueux glissait sur le lac en quête de nourriture.

Symbolic representation of beauty and grace.

She was compared to a swan for her elegant dancing.

Elle était comparée à un cygne tant sa danse était élégante.

A swan can also refer to a person or thing that is beautiful or graceful.

In this competition, she stands out as a true swan.

Dans cette compétition, elle se distingue comme un véritable cygne.

From Latin 'cygnus', which comes from Greek 'kygnos'.

a black swan

A rare person or event that defies expectations.

un cygne noir

to act like a swan

To behave with elegance or grace.

faire le cygne

to become a swan

To evolve into a state of beauty or sophistication.

devenir un cygne

cygnet

Young swan.

cygnet

neck

Part of the body between the head and trunk, often illustrated by the swan.

cou

lake

Body of water where swans are often found.

lac

Pejorative term for a person who thinks they are elegant.

Look at how she struts, she thinks she is a swan.

Regarde la façon dont elle se pavane, elle se prend pour un cygne.

Used to refer to someone clumsy despite an elegant appearance.

He fell flat on his face while dancing, really an awkward swan.

Il s'est cassé la figure en dansant, vraiment un cygne malhabile.