How to Say "Hickey" in French

suçon

/sy.sɔ̃/masculine

The English word 'hickey' is translated into French as suçon. Wiktionary also lists sucette.

Meaning: bruise-like mark (noun)

Ways to say it

“hickey” in French
French	IPA	Note
suçon	/sy.sɔ̃/	masculine
sucette	/sy.sɛt/	Canadian, feminine

This noun refers to a bruise-like mark.

While sucette can mean hickey in Quebec, its standard meaning in France is lollipop.

In Quebec, the term sucette is used to mean 'hickey'.

suçon is a masculine noun, while sucette is a feminine noun.

/sy.sɔ̃/

The term suçon can also be used in certain contexts to describe a suction cup used for lifting objects.
While an English speaker might say 'hickey', a French speaker might colloquially refer to the mark as a 'trace de baiser', meaning 'trace of a kiss'.
The word suçon is a diminutive of the verb sucer, which means 'to suck'.

C'est un suçon que tu as dans le cou ?
Is that a hickey on your neck?
This sentence is useful for identifying a suçon on someone's neck.
Tatoeba #13393315 by lbdx, translation #10175955 by CK
Je t'ai dit de ne pas me faire un suçon !
I told you not to give me a hickey!
This sentence is useful for expressing a reaction to receiving a suçon.
Tatoeba #819547 by sacredceltic, translation #597624 by darinmex
Il a un énorme suçon sur l'épaule.
He has a huge hickey on his shoulder.

Emma and Hugo are getting ready to go to a party.

Emma

Hugo, cache ce suçon avec ton écharpe.
Hugo, hide that hickey with your scarf.
Hugo

Est-ce qu'il est très visible ?
Is it very visible?
Emma

Oui, tout le monde va le voir.
Yes, everyone is going to see it.
Hugo

D'accord, je vais mettre un col montant.
Okay, I will wear a turtleneck.

Sources

Wiktionary, “hickey” translations and entries suçon, sucette, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
Word origins: Wiktionary entries sucette, suçon, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.

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