this post was submitted on 22 Jun 2025
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Raccoons
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In French, they are called "washing raccons". I don't even know any other kind of raccon.
"Washing bears" in German.
Same in Dutch: Wasbeer.
What I call the empty bottle of ale
And in Catalan: os rentador.
Same as Japanese, araiguma
Interesting that it's the same meaning. I wonder if it came from the Germanic word (particularly the Dutch), or if both languages ended up calling them the same thing independently?
I wouldn't be surprised if we learned it from the Germans as I don't think the little guys are native to Japan!
The Dutch and Portuguese were the most influential early foreigners, and it's "washing bear" in Dutch as well, so they would be the prime suspect.
That's true. I think we use German loan words mostly for medical stuff (probably not anymore).
Washing Ratons, not raccons. In french ratons are the genus raccoon: small nocturnal omnivorous mammals. Raton-laveur is the common raccoon. There are other less well-known species.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Procyon_(genus)
Thank you for correcting me. I'm very unaware of these, as ratons not that commun in France. They are invasive though... But as of now I now more of hedgehog when it comes to small nocturnal omnivorous mammals.
They are "invasive" even where they are native. I go camping in national parks in the south of Québec and those cute little things are annoying as hell. They steal and chew anything you leave unsupervised at your camp site. They come scratch and sniff your tent multiple times a night.
Les osti de ratons!
Heureusement que les hérissons ne sont pas comme ça mais bon, eux sont malheureusement en voie de disparition.