bébé
/be.be/
The French word for the English term "babe" (meaning an attractive person) is bébé.
In French, bébé is primarily used to refer to an actual infant. Using it to refer to an attractive person or a romantic partner is an informal way to use the word, borrowed from English usage and it is less common than the literal meaning.
Meaning: attractive person (noun)
Which one should you use?
While bébé can be used as a term of endearment similar to "babe" in English, its primary and most common meaning is the literal word for an infant.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /be.be/ and consists of 2 syllables.
Did you know?
- While bébé is used for infants, French speakers also use bout de chou to call small children a 'piece of cabbage'.
- The historical figure Nicolas Ferry was so famous that he was known across Europe simply as bébé.
- Using bébé as a term of endearment in France can be seen as overly sugary or 'cringey' compared to traditional terms like chéri.
Examples in context
- Désolée bébé, j’embrasse pas.Sorry babe, no kissing.This sentence shows how to use bébé as a term of endearment when declining a kiss.Tatoeba #10706542 by sacredceltic, translation #10706536 by AutoBot
- Mon amour, tu es incroyable.My love, you are incredible.
- Ma chérie, je t'aime tellement.My darling, I love you so much.
Example conversation
Gabriel and Chloé are at a party.
- GabrielTu as vu le bébé en bleu ?Did you see the babe in blue?
- ChloéOui, il est vraiment mignon.Yes, he is really cute.
- GabrielJe vais aller lui parler.I'm going to go talk to him.
- ChloéBonne chance, Gabriel !Good luck, Gabriel!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry bébé, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bébé, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
