canard in English
- canard⇄canard, noun, verb.
- canard⇄noun 1. a false rumor; exaggerated report; hoax.
Ex. After World War I, the canard spread that France had even collected rent for the use of trenches on its soil (Time).
2a. an airplane with its stabilizer and elevators forward of the wing. - canard⇄v.i. 1. to fly or float about, or circulate as a canard or false report.
Ex. certain stories canarding about the hotels.
2. to imitate or produce the peculiar harsh cry of the duck, as an unskilled player on a wind instrument.
Ex. Righ
canard in Hindi हिन्दी
canard in Kannada ಕನ್ನಡ
canard in Sindhi سنڌي
Canard
Part of Speech
Noun
Pronunciation
/kəˈnɑːrd/
Definitions
- A false or misleading story, often spread to deceive or mislead people.
- A type of duck, particularly a wild duck of the genus Anas, often found in Europe and North America.
Usage Examples
- "The rumor about the company’s bankruptcy turned out to be a canard." (False story)
- "The hunter shot a canard near the lake." (Type of duck)
Etymology
From the French word "canard," meaning "duck." In its figurative sense, it refers to a false story or rumor, likely because of the association with deception, as ducks can often be seen swimming in the water and misleading people into thinking they are harmless. The term "canard" was first used in this context in the 19th century.
Synonyms
- Fabrication
- Falsehood
- Lie
- Rumor
- Misrepresentation
Antonyms
- Truth
- Fact
- Reality
Translations
| Language | Translation | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Spanish | Mentira | men-tee-rah |
| French | Canard | ka-nar |
| German | Falschmeldung | falsh-mel-doong |
| Italian | Falso | fal-soh |
| Portuguese | Boato | bo-ah-toh |
| Chinese (Mandarin) | 谣言 | yáo yán |
| Japanese | 虚偽 | kyogi |
| Korean | 허위 | heowi |
| Arabic | شائعة | sha'ia |
| Russian | Ложь | lozh |
| Hindi | झूठी अफवाह | jhuthi afwaah |
| Bengali | মিথ্যা | mithya |
| Gujarati | ખોટું | khoto |
| Marathi | खोटा | khota |
| Punjabi | ਝੂਠ | jhuth |
| Tamil | பொய்கள் | poigaḷ |
| Telugu | అబద్ధం | abaddham |
| Kannada | ಬುವಾ | buvā |
| Malayalam | പകയം | pakayum |
| Odia | ମିଥ୍ୟା | mithyā |
| Assamese | মিছা | michā |
| Swahili | Uongo | oo-ong-o |
| Turkish | Yalan | ya-lan |
| Polish | Fałsz | falsh |
| Czech | Lež | lezh |
| Greek | Ψέμα | pséma |
| Hebrew | שקר | sheker |
Regional Pronunciation Variations
- In American English, the pronunciation tends to be slightly more relaxed: "ka-nard."
- In British English, the pronunciation is clearer with a sharper 'r' sound: "ka-nahrd."
Historical Usage
The use of "canard" in the sense of a false or misleading story dates back to the early 19th century. It was likely influenced by the use of "canard" in French to describe a duck, potentially alluding to the deceptive or misleading nature of the duck’s appearance, leading to the metaphor of a false story. Over time, this became a common term for any fabricated rumor or hoax.
Cultural Nuances
The term "canard" is often associated with media and journalism, where false stories or rumors are sometimes spread to shape public opinion. In cultures with a high degree of skepticism or where political intrigue is prevalent, the use of the term "canard" might be more common, reflecting the mistrust of certain news sources or claims.
More Information
Canard, while initially referring to a type of bird, has come to play an important role in language as a term for falsehoods. The term is often used in political, journalistic, and everyday contexts to point out deliberate fabrications. In literature, canards have been used to illustrate characters' deception or manipulation of the truth, making the term a useful literary device as well.