câlins
The English phrase "hugs" is translated into French as câlins.
The word câlins refers to affectionate acts of holding someone closely in one's arms. To express the actual action of hugging, you should use the phrase faire des câlins.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
câlins is primarily used in informal or affectionate contexts, such as with children or romantic partners. For a more formal way to denote a heartfelt hug, you can use Étreinte, which translates to "embrace". In an informal setting, Bisou translates to "kiss" but can also be used to express a friendly hug or a peck on the cheek.
How does it change in a sentence?
The singular form of the noun is câlin, while the plural form is câlins.
Did you know?
- In France, a 'hug' is often replaced by la bise, the custom of kissing both cheeks, which serves the same social function as a friendly hug in English.
- In a romantic context, instead of just saying they want 'hugs', a French speaker might say they want des papouilles, which is much more colloquial and implies playful, affectionate stroking or touching.
- The word câlin is also the name of an adjective used to describe a person who is 'cuddly' or 'affectionate'.
Examples in context
- Tom ne fait guère plus de câlins à Marie.Tom rarely hugs Mary anymore.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use the plural form câlins in a sentence about frequency.Tatoeba #6448990 by GB3, translation #6438857 by CK
- Câlins !Hugs!This sentence shows how to use câlins as a standalone exclamation.Tatoeba #6288868 by Whidou, translation #4278546 by Ricardo14
- Câlins et bisous.Hugs and kisses.This sentence demonstrates how to combine câlins with another term of affection.Tatoeba #11938014 by Fenrir, translation #10713014 by vxern
Example conversation
Léa and Gabriel are saying goodbye at the airport.
- LéaJe vais trop m'ennuyer sans tes câlins.I'm going to be too bored without your hugs.
- GabrielMoi aussi, tu vas me manquer.Me too, I will miss you.
- LéaEncore quelques câlins avant de partir !A few more hugs before leaving!
- GabrielD'accord, viens là !Okay, come here!
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
