Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| bisou | /bi.zu/ | masculine |
| baiser | /bɛ.ze/ /be.ze/ |
masculine |
| bécot | /be.ko/ | masculine |
| bec | /bɛk/ /bɛ/ |
Quebec, masculine |
| bise | /biz/ | feminine |
The term refers to a touch with the lips.
Which one should you use?
bisou refers to a kiss, whereas bise refers specifically to the social custom of kissing someone on the cheeks as a greeting. bécot is a colloquial, slightly old-fashioned or cute way to say kiss and baiser is very formal or literary.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
bisou is the most common informal way to refer to a kiss, often used between friends, family or romantic partners. In an informal context, bisous is commonly used to refer to 'kisses'. bécot is colloquial, while baiser is very formal or literary and is rarely used in modern spoken French.
Is it said differently in some regions?
bec is a masculine noun used in Quebec.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
baiser, bisou and bécot are masculine nouns, while bise is a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/bi.zu/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Be careful with the verb embrasser. While English speakers often use it to mean 'to hug', in French, embrasser primarily means 'to kiss'.
When do people say it?
The phrase faire la bise is the standard way to describe the act of greeting someone with cheek kisses.
Did you know?
- While the noun baiser means 'a kiss', using the same word as a verb in modern spoken French is dangerous, as it is now a vulgar slang term for 'to have sex'.
- The word bise is also the name for a cold, dry wind in certain parts of France, though it is used here to describe the cheek kiss.
- In Quebec, you might hear someone use the word bec to refer to a kiss, whereas in France, it almost exclusively refers to a bird's beak.
Examples in context
- Envie d'un bisou ?Wanna kiss?This sentence shows how to express a desire for a bisou.Tatoeba #8984444 by Micsmithel, translation #8394225 by Cerenade
- Donne-moi un bisou !Give me a kiss.This sentence is a way to ask someone to give you a bisou.Tatoeba #1846381 by sacredceltic, translation #1844204 by CK
- Tu me dois un bisou.You owe me a kiss.This sentence describes an obligation to give a bisou.Tatoeba #6841238 by Aiji, translation #2556296 by Hybrid
- 84 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Léa and Gabriel are saying goodbye at the train station.
- LéaFais-moi un bisou avant de partir.Give me a kiss before you leave.
- GabrielD'accord, un gros bisou pour toi, Léa.Okay, a big kiss for you, Léa.
- LéaTu me manques déjà.I miss you already.
- GabrielMoi aussi, à très bientôt.Me too, see you very soon.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “kiss” translations and entries bisou, baiser, bécot, bec, bise, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries baiser, bec, bisou, bécot, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
