le
/la.pɛ̃/
Translation
rabbit
Word origin
Attested from the fifteenth century, and it pushed out the older French conil, which came from Latin cuniculus. The origin of lapin itself is obscure and sources disagree.
- Origin
- French
Other proposed origins
- The usual account derives it from a pre-Latin root lapp-, of the kind that survives in several Romance animal names, with the diminutive ending -in. (lapp-)
- Others take it from an Iberian source, borrowed along with the animal trade, the peninsula being the classical home of the rabbit. (Iberian)
Grammar
Examples
.
The children saw a rabbit in the garden.
soeur .
My sister keeps rabbits in the countryside.
' haie.
The rabbit hid under the hedge.
' .
He stood me up last night.
moutarde -.
We ate rabbit in mustard sauce at my grandmother's house.
Where this fits
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lapin: worksheet, infographic and listicle
Free printable study downloads for the French word "lapin" (rabbit): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.
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Start your free weekThis word is part of lesson 33.