chien/ʃjɛ̃/
noun / adjective · A1 · Frequency 475
nounmasculine
Meanings
dog
Refers to a domestic dog or dog in the general sense.
cock; hammer (of an old firearm)
Used only in old firearm terminology, for the part that strikes the primer or flint mechanism.
Examples
Le chien dort sous la table après sa promenade.
The dog is sleeping under the table after its walk.
Notre chien attend calmement devant la porte quand les enfants rentrent de l'école.
Our dog waits calmly by the door when the children come home from school.
Le chien de ce vieux pistolet doit être réparé par un armurier.
The cock of this old pistol needs to be repaired by a gunsmith.
Collocations
- dresser un chientrain a dog
- le chien d’un fusilthe hammer of a firearm
Common mistakes
Le chein dort dans son panier.
Le chien dort dans son panier.
The correct spelling of chien is chien, with i before e; chein is a common letter-order error.
Related words
synonymclébarddog; pooch, usually referring to a large or scruffy dog, with an informal and slightly derogatory tone.
adjectivemasculine
Meanings
greedy, stingy
Often pejorative; describes someone excessively stingy or greedily attached to money or possessions.
Examples
Ce commerçant est chien quand il doit payer une facture.
This shopkeeper is stingy when he has to pay a bill.
Mon oncle est chien avec ses invités et ne leur offre jamais de dessert.
My uncle is stingy with his guests and never offers them dessert.
Le directeur s'est montré chien en refusant une petite augmentation.
The manager showed himself to be stingy by refusing a small raise.
Collocations
- être chien avec quelqu’unto be stingy with someone
Common mistakes
Il est très chien avec son argent.
Il est très chien dans sa manière d'être avec son argent.
The adjective chien, when describing a person, cannot directly modify verbs or adverbs and requires proper phrasing.
Related words
synonymavarestingy
synonymradinstingy
nounmasculine
Meanings
dog
Refers to a domestic dog or dog in the general sense.
cock; hammer (of an old firearm)
Used only in old firearm terminology, for the part that strikes the primer or flint mechanism.
Examples
Les chiens attendent calmement devant la porte.
The dogs are waiting calmly in front of the door.
Nous avons recueilli plusieurs chiens abandonnés.
We took in several abandoned dogs.
Le musée présente des chiens appartenant à un vieux fusil à silex.
The museum displays cocks belonging to an old flintlock rifle.
nounfeminine
Meanings
dog
Refers to a domestic dog or dog in the general sense.
cock; hammer (of an old firearm)
Used only in old firearm terminology, for the part that strikes the primer or flint mechanism.
Examples
La chienne attend calmement sa maîtresse devant la porte.
The female dog is waiting calmly for her owner in front of the door.
Cette chienne accompagne les enfants pendant leur promenade quotidienne.
This female dog accompanies the children on their daily walk.
L'armurier vérifia la chienne du vieux pistolet avant de le réparer.
The gunsmith checked the old pistol's hammer before repairing it.
adjectivefeminine
Meanings
greedy, stingy
Often pejorative; describes someone excessively stingy or greedily attached to money or possessions.
Examples
Elle est vraiment chienne avec ses collègues quand il s'agit de partager les pourboires.
She is really stingy with her colleagues when it comes to sharing tips.
Ma sœur est trop chienne pour offrir le moindre morceau de son dessert.
My sister is too greedy to offer even a small piece of her dessert.
La patronne s'est montrée chienne en refusant une prime pourtant bien méritée.
The boss was stingy when she refused a bonus that was well deserved.