sirène
siren, mermaid
noun see-REHN Less Common
Origin: Latin Sirena, from Greek Seirēn
Usage Note
Sirène covers both the mythological mermaid/siren and any modern alarm siren (police, ambulance). Context disambiguates: la sirène des pompiers is the fire engine siren, while une sirène de la mer is a mermaid. The feminine form is always used.
Examples
"La sirène de l'ambulance retentissait dans la rue."
Natural Translation
The ambulance siren was blaring in the street.
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