le hibou
le hibou em 30 segundos
- Le hibou is the French word for an owl with ear tufts.
- It is a masculine noun (le hibou) with an aspirated H.
- The plural is irregular: les hiboux (ends in -x).
- It is biologically different from 'la chouette' in French terminology.
The French word le hibou refers specifically to a group of nocturnal birds of prey within the order Strigiformes. In the English-speaking world, we often use the general term 'owl' to cover all such birds, but French makes a distinct biological and linguistic separation between the hibou (the eared owl) and the chouette (the earless owl). A hibou is characterized by the presence of 'aigrettes'—small tufts of feathers on the head that resemble ears or horns, though they are not actually ears. These tufts are used for communication and camouflage rather than hearing.
- Biological Distinction
- In French, a 'hibou' is not the male of the 'chouette'. They are different species. If a bird has tufts, it is a hibou. If it does not, it is a chouette.
- Grammatical Gender
- The word is masculine (le hibou), and importantly, it begins with an 'h aspiré'. This means you say 'le hibou' and never 'l'hibou'.
- Symbolism
- While often associated with wisdom in English, in some French folklore, the hibou was historically seen as a bird of ill omen or sadness due to its nocturnal nature and haunting call.
Regarde là-haut, le hibou nous observe depuis la branche du vieux chêne.
When people use this word, they are usually referring to the physical bird, but it can also appear in literary contexts to evoke mystery, night, or the forest. In modern daily life, you might encounter it in nature documentaries, children's stories, or when discussing biodiversity in the French countryside. It is a word that carries a certain weight of mystery, often appearing in poetry to represent the watcher of the night.
Le grand-duc est le plus grand hibou d'Europe.
Le cri du hibou résonne dans la forêt silencieuse.
J'ai acheté un petit hibou en bois pour décorer mon étagère.
Using le hibou correctly involves understanding its grammatical quirks and its specific meaning compared to other birds. Because it starts with an aspirated 'h', you must treat it as if it begins with a consonant. This means no elision (l'hibou is wrong) and no liaison (les hiboux is pronounced /le i.bu/, not /le.zi.bu/).
- Subject of the Sentence
- Le hibou chasse les petits rongeurs pendant la nuit. (The owl hunts small rodents during the night.)
- Object of the Sentence
- Nous avons entendu un hibou hululer hier soir. (We heard an owl hooting last night.)
- Descriptive Context
- Avec ses grands yeux jaunes, le hibou semble tout voir. (With its large yellow eyes, the owl seems to see everything.)
In more complex sentence structures, you might use 'hibou' metaphorically. For example, calling someone a 'vieux hibou' can be a slightly derogatory or affectionate way to describe a grumpy or solitary old person. However, its primary use remains ornithological. When writing, ensure you use the plural form 'hiboux' correctly, as it is a frequent target for French spelling tests.
Le photographe a attendu des heures pour capturer l'envol du hibou.
You will encounter le hibou in several specific contexts in France and French-speaking countries. One of the most common places is in children's literature and nursery rhymes. The famous song 'Dans la forêt lointaine' features the lyrics 'on entend le coucou, du haut de son grand chêne, il répond au hibou'. This embeds the word in the memory of every French child.
In scientific or educational settings, such as visits to a 'parc naturel' or a 'volerie' (a place where birds of prey are shown), the word is used with precision to distinguish it from the chouette. Conservationists use it when discussing the protection of habitats for the 'Grand-duc d'Europe', the largest owl in the world, which is a source of national pride in French biodiversity.
Metaphorically, you might hear it in rural areas. A person who stays up late might be called a 'couche-tard', but sometimes the image of the hibou is used to describe someone who is solitary and observant. In literature, poets like Charles Baudelaire have used the hibou as a symbol of meditation and stillness. In his poem 'Les Hiboux', he describes them sitting under black yews like alien gods, emphasizing their stillness and the wisdom of not moving.
The word le hibou is a minefield for learners due to its phonetics and spelling. The most frequent error is treating the 'h' as mute. In French, there are two types of 'h': 'h muet' (which allows elision) and 'h aspiré' (which forbids it). Hibou has an 'h aspiré'.
- Mistake: Elision
- Saying 'l'hibou' instead of 'le hibou'. This is a very common error for English speakers who are used to words like 'l'homme' or 'l'hôtel'.
- Mistake: Liaison
- Pronouncing the 's' in 'les hiboux'. It should be 'lay-ee-boo', not 'lay-zee-boo'. The 'h aspiré' acts as a physical barrier to the sound.
- Mistake: Plural Spelling
- Writing 'hibous' with an 's'. Remember the phrase: 'bijou, caillou, chou, genou, hibou, joujou, pou' - these seven words always take an 'x' in the plural.
Another conceptual mistake is using 'hibou' for any owl. If you are looking at a Barn Owl (Effraie des clochers), which has a heart-shaped face and no tufts, you must call it a chouette. Using hibou for an earless owl sounds scientifically illiterate to a native French speaker.
Understanding le hibou requires knowing its 'cousins' in the French language. The primary alternative is la chouette, but there are others depending on the specific type of bird or the context.
- La Chouette vs Le Hibou
- Hibou has tufts (aigrettes); Chouette has a smooth head. Example: 'La chouette hulule, le hibou bouboule' (though both can be said to 'hululer').
- Le Grand-Duc
- The Eagle Owl. This is the 'king' of the hiboux. It is much larger and more powerful.
- Le Petit-Duc
- The Scops Owl. A much smaller version of the hibou, often found in southern France.
In a metaphorical sense, if you want to describe someone who stays up all night, you might use un oiseau de nuit (a night bird) or un noctambule. While 'hibou' can imply a solitary nature, 'noctambule' implies someone who enjoys the nightlife. If you mean someone is wise, you would say sage comme une image or simply sage, as the link between owls and wisdom is slightly less automatic in French culture than in English, where 'the wise old owl' is a fixed archetype.
How Formal Is It?
Curiosidade
The 'h' is aspirated because the word has Germanic roots (like 'haie' or 'hache'), which traditionally prevented elision in French.
Guia de pronúncia
- Pronouncing the H (French H is always silent).
- Doing elision: 'l'hibou' (incorrect).
- Doing liaison: 'les-z-hiboux' (incorrect).
- Pronouncing the X in 'hiboux' (incorrect).
- Confusing 'ou' with 'u'.
Nível de dificuldade
Easy to recognize, but don't confuse with chouette.
The plural -x and the H-aspiré make it tricky.
Hard to remember not to do the liaison (les hiboux).
The silent H can make it sound like 'ibou'.
O que aprender depois
Pré-requisitos
Aprenda a seguir
Avançado
Gramática essencial
H aspiré
Le hibou (no elision).
Plural of nouns in -ou
Hibou -> Hiboux (one of 7 exceptions).
No liaison with H aspiré
Les hiboux (pronounced /le i.bu/).
Gender of animals
Le hibou is masculine regardless of the bird's sex (unless specified).
Adjective placement
Un hibou brun (adjective after noun).
Exemplos por nível
Le hibou est brun.
The owl is brown.
Subject + Verb 'être' + Adjective.
C'est un hibou.
It is an owl.
Use of 'C'est' with an indefinite article.
Le hibou vole.
The owl flies.
Simple present tense verb 'voler'.
J'aime le hibou.
I like the owl.
Direct object with definite article.
Le hibou est dans l'arbre.
The owl is in the tree.
Preposition 'dans' showing location.
Le hibou a de grands yeux.
The owl has big eyes.
Verb 'avoir' + plural adjective and noun.
Regarde le hibou !
Look at the owl!
Imperative mood.
Le hibou chante la nuit.
The owl sings at night.
Adverbial phrase of time 'la nuit'.
Les hiboux vivent dans la forêt.
Owls live in the forest.
Plural form 'hiboux' with -x.
Le hibou ne dort pas la nuit.
The owl does not sleep at night.
Negation 'ne... pas'.
Il y a un petit hibou sur la branche.
There is a little owl on the branch.
'Il y a' structure.
Le hibou mange des souris.
The owl eats mice.
Partitive/Indefinite plural 'des'.
J'entends le hibou huer.
I hear the owl hooting.
Infinitive after verb of perception.
Le hibou est un animal nocturne.
The owl is a nocturnal animal.
Adjective 'nocturne' follows the noun.
Le plumage du hibou est doux.
The owl's plumage is soft.
Possession with 'du' (de + le).
Ma grand-mère a une collection de hiboux.
My grandmother has a collection of owls.
Plural exception 'hiboux'.
Le hibou se distingue de la chouette par ses aigrettes.
The hibou is distinguished from the chouette by its tufts.
Pronominal verb 'se distinguer'.
On dit souvent que le hibou est un symbole de sagesse.
It is often said that the owl is a symbol of wisdom.
Passive voice with 'On dit'.
Bien que le hibou soit impressionnant, il est discret.
Although the owl is impressive, it is discreet.
Subjunctive mood after 'Bien que'.
Le hibou moyen-duc est commun en France.
The long-eared owl is common in France.
Compound noun 'moyen-duc'.
Le hibou tourne la tête presque entièrement.
The owl turns its head almost entirely.
Adverb 'presque entièrement'.
Si tu as de la chance, tu verras un hibou ce soir.
If you are lucky, you will see an owl tonight.
Conditional 'Si' clause with future tense.
Le hibou est un rapace utile pour les agriculteurs.
The owl is a bird of prey useful for farmers.
Adjective 'utile' modifying 'rapace'.
Il est interdit de chasser le hibou car il est protégé.
It is forbidden to hunt the owl because it is protected.
Impersonal 'Il est interdit de'.
Le hibou grand-duc possède une envergure spectaculaire.
The Eurasian eagle-owl has a spectacular wingspan.
More formal verb 'posséder'.
Le poète compare son âme à un hibou solitaire.
The poet compares his soul to a solitary owl.
Metaphorical usage.
Le hibou, tapi dans l'ombre, guettait sa proie.
The owl, lurking in the shadows, was watching for its prey.
Use of the imperfect for description and 'tapi' (lurking).
Malgré sa mauvaise réputation médiévale, le hibou est fascinant.
Despite its bad medieval reputation, the owl is fascinating.
Preposition 'Malgré'.
Le hibou est capable de voler sans faire le moindre bruit.
The owl is capable of flying without making the slightest noise.
'Sans faire le moindre' expression.
La morphologie du hibou est adaptée à la vie nocturne.
The morphology of the owl is adapted to nocturnal life.
Scientific vocabulary 'morphologie'.
Certains croient que le cri du hibou annonce un malheur.
Some believe the owl's cry announces misfortune.
Verb 'croire' + 'que' clause.
Le hibou s'est envolé dès qu'il a perçu un mouvement.
The owl flew away as soon as it perceived a movement.
Passé composé with 's'envoler' and 'percevoir'.
L'esthétique du hibou a inspiré de nombreux artistes surréalistes.
The aesthetics of the owl inspired many surrealist artists.
Complex subject and abstract noun 'esthétique'.
Le hibou incarne une forme de sagesse stoïque et imperturbable.
The owl embodies a form of stoic and imperturbable wisdom.
High-level adjectives.
L'h aspiré du mot 'hibou' empêche toute liaison avec l'article précédent.
The aspirated H of the word 'hibou' prevents any liaison with the preceding article.
Linguistic terminology.
On observe une raréfaction des hiboux dans certaines régions agricoles.
A scarcity of owls is observed in certain agricultural regions.
Noun 'raréfaction'.
Le hibou, par son immobilité, semble méditer sur le sort du monde.
The owl, by its immobility, seems to meditate on the fate of the world.
Philosophical phrasing.
L'acuité visuelle du hibou surpasse celle de la plupart des vertébrés.
The visual acuity of the owl surpasses that of most vertebrates.
Scientific comparison.
Le hibou est un sujet récurrent dans la littérature gothique.
The owl is a recurring subject in Gothic literature.
Literary analysis term 'récurrent'.
Sa démarche est aussi prudente que celle d'un hibou en chasse.
His approach is as cautious as that of a hunting owl.
Complex comparison 'aussi... que celle de'.
Le hibou, sentinelle hiératique des bois, veille sur le repos des sylves.
The owl, hieratic sentinel of the woods, watches over the rest of the forests.
Highly literary vocabulary ('hiératique', 'sylves').
La taxonomie des strigidés inclut le hibou comme figure de proue.
The taxonomy of strigidae includes the owl as a figurehead.
Technical scientific terms.
Le hululement du hibou déchire le linceul de silence de la nuit hivernale.
The hooting of the owl tears the shroud of silence of the winter night.
Metaphorical and poetic language.
Nul ne saurait ignorer la portée symbolique du hibou dans l'œuvre hugolienne.
No one could ignore the symbolic scope of the owl in Victor Hugo's work.
Literary reference and 'ne saurait' construction.
Le hibou s'inscrit dans un imaginaire collectif empreint de mysticisme.
The owl is part of a collective imagination imbued with mysticism.
Abstract cultural analysis.
L'asymétrie auriculaire du hibou lui permet une localisation spatiale précise.
The auricular asymmetry of the owl allows it precise spatial localization.
Advanced biological terminology.
Le hibou demeure l'emblème d'une nature sauvage et indomptée.
The owl remains the emblem of a wild and untamed nature.
Elevated verb 'demeurer'.
On ne peut qu'être saisi par la fixité du regard du hibou.
One cannot help but be seized by the fixity of the owl's gaze.
Restrictive 'ne... que' construction.
Sinônimos
Antônimos
Colocações comuns
Frases Comuns
— As wise as an owl. Note: 'Sage comme une image' is more common in French, but this exists.
L'enfant restait là, sage comme un hibou.
— A solitary or slightly odd old man. It can be a bit rude or descriptive.
Ne fais pas attention à lui, c'est un vieux hibou.
— A phrase used to teach children the difference between the two types of birds.
Le maître explique la différence entre le hibou et la chouette.
— To hear the hooting at night, often creating a spooky atmosphere.
On entend le hibou dès que le soleil se couche.
— Describing someone with very large, round, or staring eyes.
Elle me regardait avec ses yeux de hibou.
— To live a nocturnal or solitary life.
Depuis qu'il est écrivain, il vit comme un hibou.
— A philosophical reference to wisdom and the goddess Athena/Minerva.
Le hibou de Minerve ne prend son envol qu'au crépuscule.
— A term of endearment for a child, though 'mon petit chat' is more common.
Viens ici, mon petit hibou.
— To stay awake and watch something intently in the dark.
Il a fait le hibou toute la nuit pour surveiller le jardin.
— A place that is messy or full of strange people.
Sa chambre est un vrai nid de hiboux !
Frequentemente confundido com
The chouette has no tufts; the hibou does. They are different species.
Houx means holly (the plant). Sounds similar but very different.
Boue means mud. Only the 'ou' sound is the same.
Expressões idiomáticas
— To be very sad or gloomy. This comes from the bird's solitary nature.
Depuis son départ, il est triste comme un hibou.
informal— The person who has to stay awake or work at night while others sleep.
C'est moi le hibou de service ce soir à l'usine.
colloquial— To see very well in the dark or to have large eyes.
Tu as des yeux de hibou pour trouver tes clés dans le noir !
standard— While not using 'hibou' directly, it's the idiom for someone who loves the night.
Il ne sort jamais le jour, c'est un vrai oiseau de nuit.
standard— To shout or boo at someone (from the bird's sound).
La foule a commencé à huer comme un hibou.
standard— While using the other bird, it's the most common idiom related to owls, meaning 'That's great!'.
Tu viens demain ? C'est chouette !
informal— To look at someone with surprise or shock.
Quand j'ai annoncé la nouvelle, il m'a regardé avec des yeux de hibou.
standard— To live a retired, solitary life away from society.
Il vit en hibou dans sa petite maison à la montagne.
literary— Used to describe a sound that is haunting or mournful.
Sa plainte ressemblait à un hululement de hibou.
literaryFácil de confundir
Both are owls in English.
Hibou has 'ears' (tufts), chouette is smooth-headed.
Le hibou a des aigrettes, la chouette n'en a pas.
Both are birds starting with H-aspiré.
Héron is a tall water bird; hibou is a nocturnal raptor.
Le héron pêche, le hibou chasse.
Similar starting letters.
Hibiscus is a flower; hibou is a bird.
J'ai un hibiscus dans mon jardin et un hibou dans mon arbre.
It's a type of owl sound/bird.
Hulotte is specifically the Tawny Owl (a chouette).
La chouette hulotte est très commune.
Both share the irregular -x plural rule.
Bijou is jewelry; hibou is a bird.
Elle porte un bijou en forme de hibou.
Padrões de frases
Le hibou est [adjectif].
Le hibou est grand.
Il y a des [nom plural] dans la forêt.
Il y a des hiboux dans la forêt.
Le hibou se cache pour [verbe].
Le hibou se cache pour chasser.
C'est un animal qui [verbe].
C'est un animal qui vit la nuit.
Bien que le hibou [subjonctif]...
Bien que le hibou soit petit, il est fort.
On dit que le hibou [indicatif]...
On dit que le hibou voit tout.
Nul n'ignore la [nom] du hibou.
Nul n'ignore la beauté du hibou.
Telle une sentinelle, le hibou [verbe]...
Telle une sentinelle, le hibou surveille la plaine.
Família de palavras
Substantivos
Verbos
Adjetivos
Relacionado
Como usar
Common in nature/children's contexts, rare in urban daily life.
-
l'hibou
→
le hibou
The H is aspirated, so elision is forbidden.
-
les hibous
→
les hiboux
One of the seven exceptions ending in -x.
-
les-z-hiboux
→
les hiboux (no z sound)
Liaison is forbidden with an aspirated H.
-
un chouette
→
une chouette / un hibou
Confusing gender and species. Hibou is masculine, chouette is feminine.
-
le hibou (for a barn owl)
→
la chouette effraie
Using the wrong term for a bird without tufts.
Dicas
The X Factor
Always remember the -x in hiboux. It's a classic test question in French schools.
The Wall
Imagine the H in hibou is a wall. You can't jump over it with a liaison or elision.
Ears or No Ears?
If you see 'ears' (feathers), say hibou. If it's a round head, say chouette.
Not Just Wise
In France, owls can be spooky. Don't assume everyone sees them as 'wise'.
Aspirated H
When writing 'le hibou', check that you didn't accidentally type 'l'hibou'.
Species Names
When talking about the 'Grand-duc', you don't always need to say 'hibou' first.
Silent Sounds
Listen for the 'u' sound. It's the key to the word.
Mnemonic
Hibou, Chou, Bijou... they all take an X. Group them together in your mind.
Clear Articles
Make sure the 'e' in 'le' is clear and short.
Harry Potter
In French translations, Hedwig is a 'chouette harfang'. Use this to remember the difference!
Memorize
Mnemônico
Think of a 'He-Boo'! A male-sounding bird that says 'Boo' (or 'Hou') in the dark. The 'He' reminds you it's masculine.
Associação visual
Imagine an owl with two big feather 'H's on its head for ears. This helps you remember it starts with H and has tufts.
Word Web
Desafio
Try to say 'Le hibou' and 'Les hiboux' five times fast without making a 'z' sound or shortening the 'le'.
Origem da palavra
From the Old French 'hibou', which is likely of onomatopoeic origin, imitating the bird's cry.
Significado original: The bird that makes the 'hou' sound.
Romance (French), with roots possibly in Germanic or Celtic imitative sounds.Contexto cultural
No specific sensitivities, but avoid using 'vieux hibou' to a stranger as it can be offensive.
English speakers often miss the 'tuft' distinction and call everything an owl.
Pratique na vida real
Contextos reais
Nature walk
- Écoute le hibou.
- Où est le hibou ?
- C'est un hibou.
- Il est haut.
Bedtime story
- Le hibou veille.
- Bonne nuit hibou.
- Le hibou s'envole.
- L'histoire du hibou.
Biology class
- Le hibou est un rapace.
- Ses aigrettes sont des plumes.
- Il chasse la nuit.
- Le régime du hibou.
Describing a person
- Il est solitaire comme un hibou.
- Quel vieux hibou !
- Elle a des yeux de hibou.
- Il vit comme un hibou.
Grammar lesson
- Hibou prend un x.
- C'est un h aspiré.
- Ne faites pas la liaison.
- Le hibou, les hiboux.
Iniciadores de conversa
"As-tu déjà entendu un hibou hululer la nuit dans ton quartier ?"
"Quelle est la différence entre un hibou et une chouette, selon toi ?"
"Est-ce que tu penses que le hibou est vraiment un symbole de sagesse ?"
"Si tu étais un hibou, où aimerais-tu vivre ?"
"As-tu déjà vu un hibou grand-duc en vrai ?"
Temas para diário
Décrivez une rencontre imaginaire avec un hibou dans une forêt sombre.
Pourquoi le hibou est-il souvent utilisé dans les films d'horreur ou de mystère ?
Comparez la vie d'un hibou avec la vie d'un oiseau de jour.
Écrivez un court poème sur le silence du vol d'un hibou.
Imaginez une conversation entre un hibou et une chouette.
Perguntas frequentes
10 perguntasNon, c'est une erreur courante. Le hibou et la chouette sont deux espèces différentes. Le mâle de la chouette est une chouette mâle, et la femelle du hibou est une femelle hibou.
Parce que le 'h' de hibou est un 'h aspiré'. En français, on ne fait pas l'élision (suppression de la voyelle) devant un h aspiré.
Le pluriel est 'hiboux' avec un 'x'. C'est l'une des sept exceptions à la règle générale des mots en -ou qui prennent un 's'.
Le hibou hulule ou bouboule. Le mot le plus courant est 'hululement'.
Ils vivent généralement dans les forêts, les montagnes, ou parfois dans de vieilles ruines, selon l'espèce.
Les hiboux voient principalement en noir et blanc ou avec très peu de couleurs, car leurs yeux sont adaptés à la vision nocturne.
Cela dépend de l'espèce. Le petit-duc est très petit (20 cm), tandis que le grand-duc peut atteindre 75 cm.
Non, il a peur des humains. Cependant, il peut être agressif s'il doit défendre son nid.
Il mange des petits mammifères comme des souris, des mulots, ou parfois des insectes et d'autres oiseaux.
Ces tufts de plumes servent à exprimer des émotions et à se camoufler dans les arbres. Ce ne sont pas des oreilles.
Teste-se 180 perguntas
Décrivez un hibou en trois phrases simples.
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Expliquez la différence entre un hibou et une chouette.
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Faites une phrase avec le pluriel de hibou.
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Utilisez le mot 'hibou' dans un contexte métaphorique.
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Écrivez une courte histoire (4-5 phrases) sur un hibou qui chasse.
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Pourquoi dit-on 'le hibou' et pas 'l'hibou' ? Expliquez la règle grammaticale.
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Quels sont les sept mots en -ou qui prennent un x au pluriel ?
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Décrivez le cri du hibou et l'ambiance qu'il crée.
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Traduisez : 'The owl is a wise bird that watches the forest at night.'
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Imaginez le dialogue entre un hibou et un oiseau de jour.
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Quels sont les avantages d'avoir des hiboux près d'une ferme ?
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Décrivez les caractéristiques physiques du hibou grand-duc.
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Utilisez 'sage comme un hibou' dans une phrase.
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Pourquoi le hibou est-il un 'rapace' ?
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Écrivez une phrase avec 'h aspiré' et 'hibou'.
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Quel est le rôle du hibou dans la biodiversité ?
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Comparez le vol du hibou à celui d'un autre oiseau.
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Traduisez : 'I heard many owls hooting in the dark.'
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Écrivez une phrase exclamative sur la beauté d'un hibou.
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Décrivez l'habitat idéal d'un hibou.
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Prononcez : 'Le hibou'.
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Prononcez : 'Les hiboux'.
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Expliquez oralement la différence entre hibou et chouette.
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Dites : 'Le hibou hulule dans la nuit noire'.
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Répétez la liste : 'Bijou, caillou, chou, genou, hibou, joujou, pou'.
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Prononcez : 'Un hibou, des hiboux'.
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Dites : 'Le grand-duc est un hibou majestueux'.
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Dites : 'J'entends le hululement du hibou'.
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Expliquez pourquoi on ne dit pas 'l'hibou'.
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Dites : 'Le hibou a de grands yeux orange'.
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Dites : 'Le vol du hibou est totalement silencieux'.
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Prononcez : 'Hibou moyen-duc'.
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Dites : 'Le hibou guette sa proie'.
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Répétez : 'Un vieux hibou solitaire'.
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Dites : 'La sagesse du hibou'.
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Dites : 'Les plumes du hibou'.
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Dites : 'Le hibou est caché dans l'arbre'.
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Prononcez : 'H aspiré'.
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Dites : 'Le hibou mange une souris'.
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Dites : 'C'est chouette de voir un hibou !'.
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Écoutez et écrivez : 'Le hibou'.
Écoutez et écrivez : 'Les hiboux dorment'.
Écoutez et identifiez le nombre : 'J'ai vu trois hiboux'.
Écoutez et écrivez : 'Un hululement lointain'.
Écoutez et écrivez : 'Le grand-duc'.
Écoutez et choisissez le mot entendu : 'hibou' ou 'boue' ?
Écoutez et écrivez : 'Le hibou est un rapace'.
Écoutez et écrivez : 'Ses aigrettes bougent'.
Écoutez et écrivez : 'Le vol silencieux'.
Écoutez et écrivez : 'Un vieux hibou'.
Écoutez et écrivez : 'La nuit du hibou'.
Écoutez et écrivez : 'H aspiré'.
Écoutez et écrivez : 'Le hibou chasse'.
Écoutez et écrivez : 'Les yeux du hibou'.
Écoutez et écrivez : 'Un cri dans la forêt'.
/ 180 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
The word 'le hibou' refers to an eared owl. Remember two key rules: it is an 'h aspiré' word (no 'l'hibou') and its plural is 'hiboux'. Example: 'Le hibou chante dans la nuit.'
- Le hibou is the French word for an owl with ear tufts.
- It is a masculine noun (le hibou) with an aspirated H.
- The plural is irregular: les hiboux (ends in -x).
- It is biologically different from 'la chouette' in French terminology.
The X Factor
Always remember the -x in hiboux. It's a classic test question in French schools.
The Wall
Imagine the H in hibou is a wall. You can't jump over it with a liaison or elision.
Ears or No Ears?
If you see 'ears' (feathers), say hibou. If it's a round head, say chouette.
Not Just Wise
In France, owls can be spooky. Don't assume everyone sees them as 'wise'.
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