Learn French: C'est un animal.

C'est un animal.

It is an animal.

Breakdown of C'est un animal.

être

to be

a / an (masculine)

it / this (with être)

l'animal

the animal (m)

Questions & Answers about C'est un animal.

Why do we use "C'est" here instead of "Il est"?

We use c'est because it is followed by a noun (un animal). In French, you use c'est to identify a person or thing with a noun phrase. If you were describing it with just an adjective instead, like saying "It is wild", you would use Il est.

What exactly is "C'est" made of?

C'est is a combination of the pronoun ce (which means "this" or "it") and the verb est (which means "is"). When ce comes before a vowel, the e is dropped and replaced with an apostrophe to make it flow better when spoken.

Are the words "un" and "animal" pronounced separately?

No, they are linked together! Because un is followed by a word starting with a vowel (animal), you connect the two words when speaking. The "n" sound in un links directly to the "a" in animal, making it sound like "un-n-animal". This connection is called a liaison.

How can I tell if "animal" is masculine or feminine?

You can tell it is masculine because it is preceded by the masculine article un (meaning "a" or "an"). If it were a feminine noun, you would see une instead.