hibou

French

Etymology

Origin unknown but assumed to be imitative.

Pronunciation

• ^{(aspirated h)} IPA^(key): /i.bu/

• audio:

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• Audio (Paris):

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Noun

hibou m (plural hiboux)

1. owl (specifically, horned owl - an owl with a crest)

Usage notes

Only seven words in French ending in -ou have their plurals in -oux instead of -ous: bijou, caillou, chou, genou, hibou, joujou, pou.

See also

• chouette

Further reading

• “hibou”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.