caca
/ka.ka/
The English phrase 'kaka' is expressed in French as caca.
caca is a childish or colloquial term used to refer to feces, functioning similarly to the English word 'poop'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
caca is an informal and childish term. In professional, medical or scientific contexts, one should use the formal expression matières fécales.
How do you pronounce it?
/ka.ka/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly spell the word as 'kaka'. The correct French spelling is caca.
Did you know?
- The French word caca shares the same Latin ancestor as the English word 'cacophony', which refers to a harsh or unpleasant sound.
- In French, the phrase caca boudin is used by children as a way to say 'that is stupid' or 'I do not care', moving beyond a literal reference to feces.
- In French, you should avoid spelling it with a 'k' as 'kaka', as the letter 'k' is quite rare in the French language and is almost exclusively reserved for foreign loanwords.
Examples in context
- Je ne comprends pas, mon chien a fait du caca partout!I don't understand, my dog pooped everywhere!
- Regarde, le chien a fait caca sur le tapis.Look, the dog pooped on the rug.
- Il y a du caca dans la litière.There is poop in the litter box.
- L'enfant a fait caca dans sa couche.The baby pooped in his diaper.
Example conversation
A parent and child are in the bathroom.
- NathanEst-ce que tu as fait caca ?Did you go poo?
- EmmaOui, j'ai fait un gros caca !Yes, I did a big poo!
- NathanC'est très bien, Emma.That's very good, Emma.
- EmmaJe suis contente !I am happy!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry caca, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries caca, CC BY-SA 4.0.