This week, let’s have a look at the word ‘hérisson’ which, as well as being one of my favourite French words, also happens to be one of my favourite animals.
Word of the Week:
‘Hérisson’.
How to pronounce it:
Ay-ree-sohn.
What it means in English:
Hedgehog.
Where does it come from?
The word ‘hérisson’ comes from the ancient French word ‘heriçon’. This has its roots in the Latin word ‘ericius’, which is also related to the French word for another spiky creature, the ‘oursin’ or, in English, a sea urchin.
How to use it in a sentence:
‘Le hérisson est mon animal préféré.’
English translation:
Hedgehogs are my favourite animals.
Similar words:
Un porc-épic = Porcupine
Un échidné = Echidna
Un tamia = Chipmunk
Un cochon d’Inde = Guinea pig
Un hamster = Hamster.
What about you? What are your favourite French words?
And if you’re looking for more Word of the Week posts, why not check out more posts here?
French Affliction 
I’ll always remember the word for hedgehog as in final year I had a French flatmate whose surname was “hérisson”!
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