chien de manchon
masculine
The English phrase 'lap dog' can be translated into French as chien de manchon. Wiktionary also lists chien-chien and chien de salon.
Meaning: small dog suited to resting in its master's lap (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | Note |
|---|---|
| chien de manchon | masculine |
| chien-chien | masculine |
| chien de salon | masculine |
The term refers to a small dog suited to resting in its master's lap. While it describes a type of pet, the phrase chien de salon can also be used pejoratively to describe a person who is perceived as overly pampered, weak or subservient to someone else.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase chien de salon literally translates to 'living room dog', implying a dog kept indoors for companionship.
Which one should you use?
Chien de salon is the most common way to refer to a lap dog or a pampered pet, whereas chien de manchon is a more archaic or specific term.
How does it change in a sentence?
All provided forms are masculine nouns.
Did you know?
- The phrase chien de manchon refers to dogs small enough to fit into a 'muff', which was a thick cylinder of fur or fabric used to keep hands warm before the invention of gloves.
- In French, repeating a word like chien-chien is a way to create a 'baby talk' version of the noun, making it sound cuter or more affectionate.
- The word salon in the phrase chien de salon shares an ancient root with the Old English word 'sæl', meaning a hall or a castle.
Examples in context
- C'est un petit chien de salon.It is a little lap dog.
Example conversation
Manon and Lucas are looking at dogs in a pet store.
- ManonRegarde ce petit chien de manchon !Look at this little lap dog!
- LucasIl est vraiment mignon, Manon.He is really cute, Manon.
- ManonJe veux un chien de manchon comme lui.I want a lap dog like him.
- LucasIl serait parfait pour ton appartement.He would be perfect for your apartment.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lap dog” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries chien, de, manchon, salon, CC BY-SA 4.0.
