Dogs, Cats and Animal Idioms in France
Chat with other pet owners in the park and pick up the animal idioms the French use every day.
In France dogs and cats must be microchipped and registered in the national I-CAD database, and travelling abroad with them needs a European pet passport with a rabies jab. Dogs are welcome on many café terraces, but picking up after them is compulsory and towns fine owners who don't. Vet visits aren't covered by any public scheme, so plenty of owners take out pet insurance.
- 1
Il mord, ton chien ?
Does your dog bite?
- 2
Il est doux comme un agneau.
He's as gentle as a lamb.
- 3
Je peux le caresser ?
Can I stroke him?
- 4
Il a une faim de loup.
He's always starving.
- 5
Il fait un temps de chien.
The weather's awful.
- 6
Je sors le chien.
I'm taking the dog out.
- 7
Il dort comme un loir.
He's sleeping like a log.
- 8
N'oublie pas de ramasser ses crottes.
Don't forget to pick up his poo.
- 9
Il a un caractère de cochon.
He's got a really bad temper.
- 10
Ils s'entendent comme chien et chat.
They fight like cat and dog.
- 11
Y a pas un chat au parc.
There's not a soul in the park.
- 12
Mon chat fait la tête.
My cat is sulking.
- 13
Il doit faire ses vaccins.
He needs his jabs.
- 14
Il est pucé.
He's microchipped.
- 15
Qui va garder le chat pendant les vacances ?
Who's going to look after the cat during the holidays?
- 16
Il est têtu comme une mule.
He's as stubborn as a mule.
- 17
Attention, chien méchant !
Beware of the dog!
Tip: The classic sign on French garden gates.
- 18
J'ai d'autres chats à fouetter.
I've got other fish to fry.
- 19
Il est trop mignon !
He's so cute!
- 20
Faut pas réveiller le chat qui dort.
Let sleeping dogs lie.