douillet
/du.jɛ/
The English phrase "cozy" can be translated into French as douillet.
douillet is used to describe physical comfort and softness, such as a bed or a room. It can also be used colloquially to describe a person who is overly sensitive or "soft". A common idiomatic way to refer to a cozy, comfortable home or living space is to use the phrase un nid douillet (a cozy nest).
How does it change in a sentence?
The form of the word changes depending on the gender and number of the noun it describes. The feminine form douillette is used for feminine nouns, such as une maison douillette. The feminine plural form is douillettes, while the masculine plural form is douillets.
How do you pronounce it?
douillet is pronounced /du.jɛ/ and has 2 syllables.
When do people say it?
The informal term "Cocooning" is borrowed from English in French to refer to the act of creating a cozy environment to relax in.
Did you know?
- To describe a 'cozy' atmosphere involving warmth and light, the French often use the word ambiance feutrée, which literally translates to 'felted atmosphere'.
- If you want to describe the 'cozy' feeling of a thick, warm blanket, you might use the word moelleux, which also means 'marrow-like' or 'soft' in a culinary sense.
- The word douillet comes from the Old French word douille, which referred to a socket or a small tube.
Examples in context
- Il vit dans une petite maison douillette.He lives in a cozy little house.This sentence uses douillet to describe a small house.Tatoeba #1353813 by sacredceltic, translation #637344 by CK
- Son domicile est aménagé de manière très douillette.His home is furnished in a very cozy way.This sentence uses douillet to describe how a home is furnished.Tatoeba #1815455 by sacredceltic, translation #6218470 by yuiyu
- Par nature, l'être humain aspire toujours à créer un petit nid douillet qui lui soit propre.By nature, human beings always aspire to build a cozy nest of their own.This sentence uses douillet to describe a nest.Tatoeba #1850197 by Rovo, translation #2912202 by mervert1
- Ce weekend, je vais faire du cocooning chez moiThis weekend, I'm going to relax and be cozy at home.
Example conversation
Gabriel and Chloé are looking at a small apartment.
- GabrielTu trouves cet appartement comment ?What do you think of this apartment?
- ChloéJe le trouve très douillet.I find it very cozy.
- GabrielC'est vrai, c'est parfait pour l'hiver.That's true, it's perfect for winter.
- ChloéOui, on s'y sentirait bien.Yes, we would feel good in it.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry douillet, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries douillet, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
