cadeau
/ka.do/
The French word cadeau means gift.
cadeau refers to something given to someone without payment, often to celebrate an occasion. You may also see the term cadeau de Noël used specifically to refer to a Christmas gift.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun cadeau is masculine, so you use the indefinite article un to say un cadeau (a gift). To form the plural, add an -s to the end to get cadeaux (gifts).
How do you pronounce it?
/ka.do/
Did you know?
- The word cadeau is an etymological relative of the English word 'cadet' and the Spanish word caudillo, as they all derive from the Latin word for 'small head'.
- French etiquette traditionally suggests that when receiving a cadeau, you should open it immediately in front of the giver rather than waiting until later.
- In French, the phrase faire un cadeau can be used ironically to describe a mistake or a failure that benefits an opponent, similar to the English 'giving it away on a silver platter'.
Examples in context
- J'ai un présent pour vous.I have a gift for you.
- Voici un petit cadeau pour vous.Here's a small gift for you.
- Un beau cadeauA beautiful gift
- Deux petits cadeauxTwo small gifts
- C'est un beau cadeau.It is a beautiful gift.
- C'est un beau cadeau pour toi.It is a beautiful gift for you.
- Je cherche un cadeau pour son anniversaire.I am looking for a gift for her birthday.
- Elle a reçu un petit cadeau.She received a small gift.
Example conversation
Chloé gives Hugo a present for his birthday.
- ChloéJoyeux anniversaire Hugo, voici ton cadeau.Happy birthday Hugo, here is your gift.
- HugoOh, merci beaucoup Chloé !Oh, thank you very much Chloé!
- ChloéTu aimes le cadeau ?Do you like the gift?
- HugoOui, c'est exactement ce que je voulais.Yes, it is exactly what I wanted.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry cadeau, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cadeau, CC BY-SA 4.0.
