French · Nature, Animals & Weather
"Owl" in French: hibou
le hibou
Note: also: la chouette
Owl in French is often le hibou, masculine. La chouette is another owl word, used a lot in speech and as a slang compliment meaning nice.
Forest walk
Un hibou a hululé cette nuit.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce hibou
Say it
ee-BOO
/i.bu/
Hibou: ee-BOO. Silent h; ou like oo. Plural hiboux keeps the same sound often.
"Owl" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| le hibou | the owl Common school-book word. | Common school-book word. |
| la chouette | owl / nice (slang) Animal, or "cool". | Animal, or "cool". |
| les hiboux | owls Plural with x. | Plural with x. |
| un hibou grand-duc | eagle owl Species. | Species. |
How to use hibou in real life
- 1Forest walk
Un hibou a hululé cette nuit.
An owl hooted last night.
Hululer = to hoot.
- 2Museum
Le hibou empaillé fait peur aux enfants.
The stuffed owl scares the kids.
Empaillé = stuffed.
- 3Plural
Les hiboux chassent la nuit.
Owls hunt at night.
Hiboux plural.
Mistakes English speakers make with hibou
Incorrect: La hibou.
Correct: Le hibou.
Hibou is masculine.
Incorrect: Les hibous.
Correct: Les hiboux.
Plural takes x: hiboux.
Good to know
Teachers once drilled hibou → hiboux as an irregular plural. Chouette as "nice/cool" (c'est chouette) is everyday slang unrelated to birdwatching.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Night hike with a guide
ChatPal
Écoute… c'est un hibou ?
Listen… is that an owl?
You
Oui, un hibou tout près.
Yes, an owl very close.
ChatPal
On reste silencieux.
Let's stay quiet.
You
D'accord. Magique.
OK. Magical.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Owl" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Owl" in French
Hibou or chouette?
Both mean owl; chouette is also slang for "nice".
Plural of hibou?
Hiboux.
Gender of hibou?
Masculine.
Pronunciation?
Ee-BOO.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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