The fox was originally known in French as goupil. Its name changed following the success of the Roman de Renart, a collection of stories from the Middle Ages written by different authors. In these tales, animals were portrayed with human characteristics (anthropomorphism): they could speak and lived alongside people.
The stories focus on Renart, a fox (goupil), whose tricks, deceit, violence, and cruelty toward other animals drive much of the narrative. As the tales became widely known, the name Renart gradually replaced goupil in the French language. Later, as spelling became more standardised, the final “t” changed to a “d”, creating the modern word renard.
Beyond its influence on the French language, the Roman de Renart also helped strengthen the negative reputation foxes have carried for centuries, portraying them as sly and untrustworthy animals.
Translation: Tilly O'Neill
