douillet
/du.jɛ/masculine
The French word for cosy is douillet.
douillet is used to describe something that affords physical comfort and warmth, such as a bed or a room.
Meaning: affording comfort and warmth (adj)
Which one should you use?
While douillet describes a sense of physical warmth and comfort, the word confortable is more general and refers to any object that provides ease or lacks discomfort.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form of the word changes based on the gender and number of the noun it describes: douillette is the feminine form, douillets is the masculine plural form and douillettes is the feminine plural form.
How do you pronounce it?
/du.jɛ/ (two syllables)
Did you know?
- Beyond physical comfort, douillet can be used to describe a person who is overly sensitive or a 'crybaby' when it comes to pain.
- While douillet describes a cosy room, the French use cocooning as a modern loanword from English to describe the act of staying home to be cosy.
- The word douillet is etymologically linked to the word douille, which refers to a sleeve or a cylindrical casing in mechanical or technical contexts.
Examples in context
- L'hôtel était très confortableThe hotel was very cosy
- chaleureux et confortableWarm and cosy
- une chambre confortableA cosy room
- J'adore mon canapé, il est très douilletI love my couch, it's very cosy
- un appartement douillet et chaleureuxA cosy and warm apartment
- Un lit douilletA cosy bed
- Après une longue journée de randonnée, notre refuge de montagne était incroyablement douillet . Les couvertures épaisses et la cheminée créaient une atmosphère accueillante.After a long day of hiking, our mountain refuge was incredibly cosy. The thick blankets and fireplace created a welcoming atmosphere.
- La petite boulangerie du coin est si douillette . J'adore m'y installer avec une tasse de café et un délicieux croissant.The little bakery around the corner is so cosy. I love settling in there with a cup of coffee and a delicious croissant.
- Cet hôtel de charme offre des chambres confortables et une ambiance accueillante qui vous fera vous sentir chez vous.This charming hotel offers cosy rooms and a welcoming atmosphere that will make you feel at home.
- Ce petit salon est très douillet.This little living room is very cosy.
- Le chalet est douillet et chaud.The chalet is cosy and warm.
Example conversation
Manon and Hugo are looking at a new apartment.
- ManonCet appartement est vraiment douillet.This apartment is really cosy.
- HugoOui, il est très confortable.Yes, it is very comfortable.
- ManonJe me sens bien ici.I feel good here.
- HugoMoi aussi, c'est parfait.Me too, it is perfect.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cosy” translations and entries douillet, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries douillet, CC BY-SA 4.0.
