hyène

See also: hyene

French

hyène

Etymology

From Latin hyaena, from Ancient Greek ὕαινα (húaina).

Pronunciation

• ^{(aspirated or mute h)} IPA^(key): /jɛn/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Homophone: yen
• Rhymes: -ɛn

Noun

hyène f (plural hyènes)

1. hyena (animal)

Usage notes

The mute pronunciation is older and historically prescribed (e.g. by Littré and l'Académie Française); however, the aspirated pronunciation, already in use in the 19th century, is markedly more common today.

Derived terms

• hyène rayée
• hyène tachetée

 

Further reading

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