nautilus

noun no-tee-LOOS Rare

Origin: Greek nautilos 'sailor'

Usage Note

Nautilus refers to the deep-sea cephalopod mollusk known for its logarithmically spiraled shell, often cited in discussions of the golden ratio. Jules Verne named Captain Nemo's submarine le Nautilus in Vingt mille lieues sous les mers, making the word instantly recognizable in French culture. The shell is also used in jewelry and décor.

Examples

"Le nautilus est un animal très ancien."

Natural Translation

The nautilus is a very ancient animal.

Related Words

Explore French by topic

FrenchNow

The Bonjour Rule: French Etiquette for Visitors

Always say bonjour before you ask, order, or pay in France — the unspoken rule that opens every door. A respectful visitor's guide to French etiquette.

June 4, 2026 6 min read

FrenchNow

How to Say "I Miss You" in French (Without Errors)

"I miss you" in French is Tu me manques, not Je te manque. Learn the subject-flip behind manquer so you never text the opposite of what you mean.

June 4, 2026 6 min read

FrenchNow

En, Au, Aux: French Prepositions for Countries

Use en for feminine countries, au for masculine, aux for plural, and à for cities. Full French preposition rule for countries, with a lookup table and traps.

June 4, 2026 5 min read

FrenchNow

French Silent Letters: The CaReFuL Rule

Final consonants in French are silent by default — except C, R, F, L. The CaReFuL rule, the silent -e, the plural-s trap, and liaison, explained simply.

June 4, 2026 5 min read