cette
/sɛt/
The French word cette means "this" or "that" for a specific feminine singular noun.
cette is a demonstrative adjective used to refer to a specific feminine singular noun.
Which one should you use?
Use cette exclusively for feminine singular nouns. For masculine singular nouns starting with a consonant, use ce. For both masculine and feminine plural nouns, use ces.
How do you pronounce it?
/sɛt/
Did you know?
- The word cette originates from a combination of the Latin words ecce, meaning 'behold', and ista, meaning 'this'.
- While cette points to a specific object, French has no single word that distinguishes between 'this' and 'that'. To make the difference, speakers must add -ci for 'this' or -là for 'that' after the noun.
- In very formal or archaic French literature, cette may be replaced by ladite, which literally means 'the said'. This is used to refer back to a feminine noun mentioned previously in a legal or official sense.
Examples in context
- J'aime cette robe.I like this dress.
- cette femmeThis woman
- Cette robe est très belle.This dress is very beautiful.
- Je cherche cette adresse.I am looking for this address.
- Regarde cette fleur dans le jardin.Look at this flower in the garden.
Example conversation
Léa and Gabriel are shopping for a gift.
- LéaEst-ce que tu aimes cette écharpe ?Do you like this scarf?
- GabrielOui, elle est parfaite pour elle.Yes, it is perfect for her.
- LéaCette couleur lui ira très bien.This color will suit her very well.
- GabrielAlors, prenons-la tout de suite.Then, let's take it right away.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry cette, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cette, CC BY-SA 4.0.
