What does chien in French mean?

What is the meaning of the word chien in French? The article explains the full meaning, pronunciation along with bilingual examples and instructions on how to use chien in French.

The word chien in French means dog, stingy, pig-ignorant, bitch, cock, dog, arrive like a bull in a china-shop, Beware of the dog!, be hot, be sick as a dog, be as sick as a dog, have a heck of a time doing, dormer, dormer window, hound, lap dog, pointer, guide dog, working dog, sheepdog, hunting dog, foetal position, hammer, guard dog, war dog, dogfish, prairie dog, retriever, lap dog, miniature dog, sled dog, husky, mad dog, rabid dog, stray dog, dog, aircraft director, police dog, search and rescue dog, wolf-dog, lying curled up in a ball, dog mess, at twilight, at dusk, at nightfall, fight like cat and dog, be in a foul mood, be sick as a dog, be killing, have a hangdog expression, have a hangdog look, foul mood, the weather is awful, the weather is dreadful, the weather is terrible, dog handler, not be 's slave, Dammit!, treat like dirt, treat like a dog, walk the dog, dog flea, Give a dog a bad name (and hang him), breed of dog, dog grooming parlour, dog grooming salon, awful weather, dreadful weather, control your dog, She sells sea shells on the sea shore., dog's life, puppy eyes. To learn more, please see the details below.

Listen to pronunciation

Meaning of the word chien

dog

nom masculin (animal domestique)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Ma fille adore son chien plus que tout. Ne faites pas un pas de plus ou je lâche mes chiens !
My daughter loves her dog more than anything. Don't take another step or I'll set my dogs on you.

stingy

adjectif (vieilli (avare, radin)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Ce que ce type peut être chien ! Il faut toujours qu'il radine.

pig-ignorant

adjectif (argot (pas aimable, sans pitié) (informal)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Cette fille est chienne, elle ne m'a même pas dit merci.
That girl's so pig-ignorant she didn't even thank me.

bitch

(familier (personne méchante) (female, pejorative)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Ce que tu peux être chien !
You can be a real dog!

cock

nom masculin (percuteur de pistolet) (historical: of early rifle)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Le soldat arma le chien de son arquebuse.
The soldier drew back the cock of his arquebus.

dog

nom masculin (signe du zodiaque chinois) (Chinese zodiac)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Je suis chien dans l'astrologie chinoise.
I'm a dog in Chinese astrology.

arrive like a bull in a china-shop

locution verbale (figuré (être mal reçu) (colloquial)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Beware of the dog!

(panneau d'avertissement)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Quand j'ai vu le panneau « Attention, chien méchant ! », j'ai préféré ne pas entrer dans le jardin.

be hot

locution verbale (familier, figuré (être attirant, racé) (sex appeal: informal, figurative)

be sick as a dog, be as sick as a dog

locution verbale (familier (avoir très mal) (informal)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Ma femme a un mal de chien et dort mal en ce moment.
My wife is as sick as a dog and is not sleeping properly at the moment.

have a heck of a time doing

locution verbale (familier (avoir du mal à faire [qch]) (informal)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Avec mon mari, nous avons eu un mal de chien à monter cette armoire.
My husband and I had a heck of a time putting together this wardrobe.

dormer, dormer window

nom masculin (type de fenêtre de toit)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Nous avons choisi des chiens assis pour les chambres du haut.

hound

nom masculin (chien de chasse poursuivant le gibier)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

lap dog

nom masculin (petit chien)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

pointer

nom masculin (chien de chasse) (hunting dog)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

guide dog

nom masculin (chien guide)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Les chiens d'aveugle sont acceptés partout.

working dog

nom masculin (chien de travail)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

sheepdog

nom masculin (chien gardien de troupeau) (dog breed)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

hunting dog

nom masculin (chien de chasseur) (dog breed)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Le Bruno du Jura est un chien de chasse.

foetal position

(position latérale les genoux pliés) (UK)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
La plupart des gens dorment en chien de fusil.

hammer

nom masculin (pièce qui met le feu à la poudre) (gun)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Chien à mèche, chien à silex ou chien de percussion sont autant de chiens de fusil.

guard dog

nom masculin (chien dressé pour la surveillance)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

war dog

nom masculin (chien utilisé par les militaires)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

dogfish

nom masculin (requin) (shark)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

prairie dog

nom masculin (rongeur voisin de la marmotte)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

retriever

nom masculin (chien de chasse) (dog)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

lap dog, miniature dog

nom masculin (petit chien)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

sled dog

nom masculin (chien d'attelage)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Il y a un élevage de chiens de traîneau dans ce village.
There is a breeding kennel of sled dogs in this village.

husky

nom masculin (familier (chien de type husky)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Les chiens de traîneau seraient mieux dans la neige.
Huskies are better off in the snow.

mad dog, rabid dog

nom masculin (figuré (personne incontrôlable) (figurative)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

stray dog

nom masculin (animal vagabond)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
La fourrière ramasse les chiens errants.

dog

nom masculin (familier, figuré, péjoratif (mauvaise personne) (person: pejorative)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Le pauvre homme, tout le monde parle de lui comme d'un chien galeux.

aircraft director

nom masculin (marine : opérateur)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

police dog

nom masculin (chien des forces de l'ordre)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Les forces de l'ordre utilisent le chien policier pour la recherche, la sauvegarde ou la défense.

search and rescue dog

nom masculin (chien de sauvetage)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

wolf-dog

nom masculin (grand chien)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Le chien-loup résulte d'un croisement entre chien et loup.

lying curled up in a ball

adjectif (sur le côté, les jambes repliées)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
On le trouva couché en chien de fusil.

dog mess

nom féminin (déjection canine) (polite, uncountable)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
J'en ai marre ! J'ai encore marché dans une crotte de chien ce matin ! Il est interdit de laisser les crottes de son chien sur un trottoir.

at twilight, at dusk, at nightfall

locution adverbiale (à la tombée du jour)

fight like cat and dog

locution verbale (mal s'entendre)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

be in a foul mood

locution verbale (familier (être de mauvaise humeur)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
J'éviterais de déranger le patron aujourd'hui : il est d'une humeur de chien !

be sick as a dog

locution verbale (familier (être très malade)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

be killing

locution verbale (familier (faire souffrir [qqn]) (figurative, informal)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Mon dos me fait un mal de chien ; il faut que j'aille voir un médecin.
My back is killing me; I must go and see a doctor.

have a hangdog expression, have a hangdog look

locution verbale (avoir l'air triste)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

foul mood

nom masculin (familier, péjoratif (mauvaise humeur)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

the weather is awful, the weather is dreadful, the weather is terrible

(familier (météo : il fait très mauvais)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Quelle semaine ! Il fait un temps de chien.

dog handler

nom masculin (dresseur de chien)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Mon cousin est maître-chien sur une base aérienne.

not be 's slave

locution verbale (ne pas être à la botte de [qqn])

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Dammit!

interjection (familier (juron : colère, frustration...)

(interjection: Exclamation--for example, "Oh no!" "Wow!")
Nom d'un chien, j'ai encore oublié les clés du garage !

treat like dirt, treat like a dog

(parler sans égard pour [qqn])

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

walk the dog

locution verbale (se balader avec son chien)

dog flea

nom féminin (insecte suçant le sang) (parasite)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Give a dog a bad name (and hang him)

(on accuse faussement pour nuire) (proverb)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Il prétend que les voisins ont crevé sa voiture. Qui veut noyer son chien l'accuse de la rage.

breed of dog

nom féminin (espèce canine)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Pour chasser, il ne faut pas n'importe quelle race de chien.

dog grooming parlour, dog grooming salon

nom masculin (magasin de mode canine)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

awful weather, dreadful weather

nom masculin (familier (intempérie)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Nous avons eu un temps de chien pendant les vacances.

control your dog

locution verbale (maîtriser son chien)

She sells sea shells on the sea shore.

(virelangue) (equivalent)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Les orateurs s'entraînaient à répéter : « Un chasseur sachant chasser doit savoir chasser sans son chien. ».

dog's life

nom féminin (vie très insatisfaisante) (figurative)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

puppy eyes

nom masculin pluriel (figuré (regard implorant) (figurative)

(plural noun: Noun always used in plural form--for example, "jeans," "scissors.")

Let's learn French

So now that you know more about the meaning of chien in French, you can learn how to use them through selected examples and how to read them. And remember to learn the related words that we suggest. Our website is constantly updating with new words and new examples so you can look up the meanings of other words you don't know in French.

Do you know about French

French (le français) is a Romance language. Like Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish, it comes from popular Latin, once used in the Roman Empire. A French-speaking person or country can be called a "Francophone". French is the official language in 29 countries. French is the fourth most spoken native language in the European Union. French ranks third in the EU, after English and German, and is the second most widely taught language after English. The majority of the world's French-speaking population lives in Africa, with about 141 million Africans from 34 countries and territories who can speak French as a first or second language. French is the second most widely spoken language in Canada, after English, and both are official languages at the federal level. It is the first language of 9.5 million people or 29% and the second language of 2.07 million people or 6% of the entire population of Canada. In contrast to other continents, French has no popularity in Asia. Currently, no country in Asia recognizes French as an official language.