Source of the picture above: https://animal.cheloniophilie.com/Fiches/Blaireau.php
Slowly catching up with the crazy Alphabet Challenge with my presentation of the letter “B” with the French (Canadian variant) word “Blaireau”. A “Blaireau” in English is a “badger”.
The word “Blaireau” is possibly related to the old French word “blaire” meaning “tâché” or any animal that has a white mark on its forehead. The term “Blaireau” can also be brought closer to the Gallic (Gaulois) term “blaros” and the Welsh term “Blawr” (a pale grey horse). The term can also be linked to the Dutch term “Blaar” meaning a “white star on the forehead”.
The “Blaireau” is actually a common French name for a variety of mammals belonging to the family of the “Mustalidae” Thus the term “Blaireau” is not a real scientific term of even a classification of a certain species. Since it is a vernacular name which is ambiguous in biology because it means several different distinct species between the eurasian and american badgers, the term “Blaireau” being used by the French speaking people usually refers to the European badger.
The badger or “blaireau” are mammals who are omnivore, are rather massive of body but with short legs and an elongated nose. Most of them have band of white along their forehead that can sometimes go along the whole of their backs.
The pronunciation of the French word “Blaireau” can be divided in two parts. The first part “Blai” can be pronounced just like “blair” but without too much inflection on the “r”. The second part is simple as “row” with no inflection on the “w”.
Well, enjoy your pronunciation or vocalization of this French word. Hope you enjoyed it. See you soon with the letter C.
Thank you for the badger perspective. Actually I did hear somewhere some time ago that English was really developed from Old French.
Well French has adopted a lot of anglicism over the years. So I guess we are on the same page. Thanks for visiting, commenting and up voting.
We have badgers in our country, but I’ve never seen him.
I think I saw one a long time ago when walking my dog in the back past our back yard… Thanks for reading and commenting and up voting…
I actually don’t know what a badger is.
A badger is a North American and European burrowing type animal. They do not really do anything in a big populated city. Thanks again for visiting and asking a question and up voting.
I thought it was a possum at first but I see it is a badger. Cool animal! I like its markings and I have seen these.
I have never seen one personally… Thanks for dropping in and commenting and up voting…
You are always very welcome!