Definition

The firstborn son of the king of France, who held a special title and was next in line for the throne.

Example

The dauphin was expected to become the future king of France.

Conversation

Did you know that the title dauphin was used for the eldest son of the king of France?

Really? I had no idea that was a formal title.

Yeah, it was quite an important role back in the day.

That’s fascinating! History has some really interesting titles.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Dauphin originates from Old French *dauphin*, meaning dolphin, which was used as a title for the heir apparent to the French throne. The term is derived from the Latin *delphinus* (meaning dolphin), reflecting the emblem of the dolphin used by the Counts of Vienne, who were the first to adopt the title.

Memory Tip

Think of the dolphin as a symbol of royalty, which helps you remember that 'dauphin' refers to the heir to the French throne.

Visually Confused Words