berceau
/bɛʁ.so/masculine
The English word "crib" translates to French as berceau.
The term refers to a baby's bed with high sides.
Meaning: a baby’s bed with high sides (noun)
Which one should you use?
While berceau is the direct translation for a baby's crib, lit à barreaux (literally 'bed with bars') is a very common way to describe the same object in everyday French.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables and is pronounced /bɛʁ.so/.
Did you know?
- French has a specific term for a 'side-car' crib that attaches to a parent's bed, often called a cododo, which is a portmanteau of co-dodo meaning 'co-sleeping'.
- The word berceau is an evolutionary descendant of a Gaulish word meaning 'to carry'.
- In poetic or literary French, berceau can refer to a small valley or a sheltered hollow in the landscape that resembles the shape of a baby's bed.
Examples in context
- Le bébé dort dans son berceau.The baby is sleeping in his crib.This sentence is useful for describing a baby sleeping in their berceau.Tatoeba #10371055 by lbdx, translation #6570527 by Hybrid
- Le bébé est dans son berceau, à sucer sa tétine.The baby is in his crib, sucking on his pacifier.This sentence shows a baby in their berceau using a pacifier.Tatoeba #3669612 by sacredceltic, translation #2953335 by CK
- Le bébé dort dans un berceau à côté du lit de ses parents.The baby sleeps in a crib next to his parents' bed.This sentence describes a baby sleeping in a berceau positioned next to their parents' bed.Tatoeba #10371056 by lbdx, translation #6570539 by Hybrid
- Le lit de bébé est très confortable.The crib is very comfortable.
- Le berceau est livré avec une douce couverture.The crib comes with a soft blanket.
- Ils ont acheté un petit lit pour leur bébé.They bought a crib for their baby.
- Dans cette garderie, chaque enfant a son propre berceau.In this daycare, each child has their own crib.
Example conversation
Manon and Hugo are in a nursery preparing for a new arrival.
- ManonEst-ce que le berceau est prêt ?Is the crib ready?
- HugoOui, le berceau est installé dans la chambre.Yes, the crib is installed in the bedroom.
- ManonIl est très beau ce berceau.This crib is very beautiful.
- HugoMerci, je l'ai acheté hier.Thanks, I bought it yesterday.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “crib” translations and entries berceau, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries berceau, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
