“Le Poisson” & More Fish And Aquatic Animals In French

What is zis (see picture above)? It’s a “le poisson,” which means “(the) fish” in English. Fish live in the ocean. They hang out with their school of fish friends and do a lot of things under the sea—because life is the bubbles and it’s better down where it's wetter!

Fish biologists have reported that there are more than 30,000 species of fish around the world. Marine biologists suggest there are about 1.4 million marine species on Earth. Interestingly, scientists say about 91% of marine species have yet to be classified.

While we wait to learn more about the blue and watery world down there, let’s get to know some of these oceanic animals in French:

• the fish: le poisson (luh pwah-sohn)
• the salmon: le saumon (luh soh-mohn)
• the mussel: la moule (la mool)
• the shrimp: la crevette (la creh-vet)
• the squid: le calmar (luh kal-mar)
• the octopus: la pieuvre (la pyuh-vruh)
• the crayfish: l’écrevisse (leh-kre-vis)
• the tuna: le thon (luh tohn)
• the lobster: le homard (luh oh-mar)
• the crab: le crabe (luh krab)
• the trout: la truite (la tru-eet)
• the mackerel: le maquereau (luh mah-kehr-oh)
• the scallop: la coquille Saint-Jacques (la ko-keel sant jahk)
• the sardine: la sardine (la sar-deen)
• the anchovies: les anchois (ley-zan-shwah)
• the eel: l’anguille (lang-gwee)
• the swordfish: l'espadon (les-pa-dohn)
• the catfish: le poisson-chat (luh pwa-sohn sha)
• the shark: le requin (luh ri-kahn)
• the jellyfish: la méduse (lah may-dooz)
• the whale: la baleine (la behl-ehn)
• the dolphin: le dauphin (luh doh-fahn)
• the seahorse: l’hippocampe (lee-poh-kahmp)