How to Say "Jewelry" in French

bijoux

/bi.ʒu/

The French word for jewelry is bijoux.

bijoux is used to refer to pieces of jewelry. In contrast, the word bijouterie refers to the jewelry shop itself or the craft of making jewelry.

Which one should you use?

While bijoux refers to the items, bijouterie is used when you mean a jewelry store or the profession of jewelry making.

The singular masculine form is bijou. The plural form is bijoux, and in this plural form, the 'x' is silent.

/bi.ʒu/

A person might say they have a bijou d'appartement to describe a very small, but very charming, living space.
If you call a person a petit bijou, you are using a term of endearment for someone who is considered precious or darling.
While bijou means jewelry, the word for 'jewel' in a royal or gemstone context is often joyau, which sounds similar but has a different nuance of grandeur.

Vendez-vous des bijoux ?
Do you sell jewelry?
This sentence is useful for asking if someone sells jewelry using bijoux.
Tatoeba #8417899 by sacredceltic, translation #8418744 by Luiaard
C'est une créatrice de bijoux.
She's a jewelry designer.
This sentence is useful for describing a jewelry designer using bijoux.
Tatoeba #1793965 by sacredceltic, translation #1792399 by Spamster
Elle porte beaucoup de bijoux.
She wears a lot of jewelry.
This sentence is useful for stating that someone wears a lot of jewelry using bijoux.
Tatoeba #8039670 by theachaean, translation #9983634 by ddnktr
Elle porte de beaux bijoux.
She is wearing beautiful jewelry.
Ces joyaux sont d'une grande valeur.
These jewels are of great value.
Regarde tous ces bijoux !
Look at all this jewelry!
18 more sentences on Tatoeba

Chloé is showing her new purchases to Hugo.

Sources

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