fourmi

ant

noun foor-MEE Rare

Usage Note

Fourmi is the common ant; the anthill is une fourmilière. The verb fourmiller ('to swarm') derives from it, and avoir des fourmis dans les jambes ('to have ants in one's legs') means to have pins and needles. Travailleur comme une fourmi is used to describe a diligent, hardworking person.

Examples

"Une fourmi porte vingt fois son poids."

Natural Translation

An ant carries twenty times its weight.

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