hibou
French
Etymology
Eventually imitative. Possibly from or influenced by a descendant of Proto-Germanic *hūwô and/or *uwwilǭ. Compare Old High German hūwo, ūvo, (h)ūwila and, as a borrowing into Romance, Catalan òbila, òliba. If so, related with English owl. Compare also Latin būbo.
Pronunciation
- (aspirated h) IPA(key): /i.bu/
audio (file) Audio (Paris) (file) - Homophone: hiboux
Noun
hibou m (plural hiboux)
- owl (specifically, those species of owls with ear tufts; those without ear tufts are chouettes)
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.
Derived terms
- hibou des marais
- hibou grand-duc
- hibou petit-duc
See also
- chouette
Further reading
- “hibou”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.
Louisiana Creole French
Etymology
From French hibou (“owl”).
Noun
hibou
- owl
References
- Alcée Fortier, Louisiana Folktales