guinea pig

cochon d’Inde, cobaye

Petit animal aux pattes courtes, aux oreilles arrondies et sans queue, souvent élevé comme animal de compagnie.

En anglais simple : A small animal with short legs, rounded ears, and no tail, often kept as a pet.

• Our guinea pig loves carrots.
• She cleaned the guinea pig’s cage.
• Do guinea pigs need fresh hay every day?

Synonymes : cavy

Expressions courantes : pet guinea pig, guinea pig cage, feed a guinea pig

cobaye

Personne ou animal sur lequel on teste quelque chose de nouveau pour en observer les effets.

En anglais simple : A person or animal used to test something new and see what happens.

• I was her guinea pig for a new recipe.
• The volunteers became guinea pigs in a medical trial.
• Would you be a guinea pig for our new software?

Comment l'utiliser : guinea pig for something (I was the guinea pig for her new recipe.); use someone as a guinea pig (They used volunteers as guinea pigs.)

Synonymes : test subject, experimental subject

Expressions courantes : human guinea pig, a willing guinea pig, guinea pig for something