Word: canard (noun)

Associations

• "Canard" is a French word used in English to mean a false story or a rumor, often one that is deliberately misleading.
• It is often used in serious contexts when talking about misinformation or lies.
• Examples:
  • The politician denied the canard that he was involved in the scandal. (Here, "canard" means a false rumor about the politician.)
  • There is a popular canard that vaccines cause illness, but it is not true. (This shows a false story spreading in society.)
  • The newspaper published a canard that was quickly proven false. (A false story in the media.)
• Synonym: rumor or myth. The difference is that "canard" usually implies the story is false and often intentionally spread, while "rumor" can be true or false and "myth" often refers to traditional stories or widely held but false beliefs.

Substitution

• You can replace "canard" with words like "false rumor," "fabrication," "lie," or "myth," depending on the context.
• Using "lie" makes it stronger and more direct.
• Using "rumor" is more neutral and can be true or false.
• Using "myth" often relates to traditional or cultural stories rather than current events.

Deconstruction

• The word "canard" comes from French, where it literally means "duck."
• Why "duck"? In French slang, "canard" came to mean a false story or hoax, possibly because a "duck" can be a "decoy" or something misleading.
• It entered English in the early 20th century with this meaning of a false or misleading story.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when you heard a "canard" or false rumor? How did it affect people?
• Why do you think some false stories spread so quickly?
• How can you check if a story is a "canard" or true?