alouette: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowLiterary/Poetic/Musical
Quick answer
What does “alouette” mean?
A small passerine bird, the skylark (Alauda arvensis) or sometimes other similar birds, primarily known from the French-Canadian folk song.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A small passerine bird, the skylark (Alauda arvensis) or sometimes other similar birds, primarily known from the French-Canadian folk song.
Primarily a cultural reference to the French folk song 'Alouette, gentille alouette', used to teach children French vocabulary for body parts. In English contexts, it rarely refers to the bird itself and almost exclusively evokes the song.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The song is equally known in both varieties, though perhaps more prevalent in Canada due to its French-Canadian origins.
Connotations
Both associate it with the children's song. In the UK, it may additionally evoke primary school music lessons or scouting.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both. Usage is almost entirely restricted to mention of the song title.
Grammar
How to Use “alouette” in a Sentence
[Proper Noun] as title of songVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Might appear in ethnomusicology or French literature/culture studies.
Everyday
Used when referring to the children's song.
Technical
Not used in ornithology; specialists use 'skylark' or Latin names.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “alouette”
- Misspelling: 'allouette', 'alouet'.
- Mispronunciation: stressing the first syllable (/ˈæl.u.et/). Correct stress is on the final syllable.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a French loanword used in English almost exclusively as the title of a famous folk song.
It means 'lark' (the bird). The song humorously threatens to pluck its feathers.
No. In English, it does not function as a general noun for 'bird'. It is specific to the lark and the cultural song.
The most common anglicised pronunciation is /ˌæl.uːˈet/ (al-oo-ET), with the main stress on the final syllable.
A small passerine bird, the skylark (Alauda arvensis) or sometimes other similar birds, primarily known from the French-Canadian folk song.
Alouette is usually literary/poetic/musical in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Alouette, gentille alouette (first line of the song)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
A-lou-ette: A small bird you 'lou' (love) to hear sing in the song you learned 'ette' (as a small child).
Conceptual Metaphor
MUSIC IS A BIRD (the song is named for the bird it describes).
Practice
Quiz
In an English context, what does the word 'alouette' most commonly refer to?