caillou
/ka.ju/masculine
The English phrase pebble is caillou in French. Wiktionary also lists galet.
Meaning: stone (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| caillou | /ka.ju/ | masculine |
| galet | /ɡa.lɛ/ | masculine |
Both caillou and galet are masculine nouns used to refer to a pebble or a small stone.
Which one should you use?
While both words mean pebble, they are used in different contexts. caillou is a generic term for any small stone or pebble that may be rough in texture. In contrast, galet refers specifically to a smooth, rounded pebble that has been shaped by erosion, such as those found on a beach.
How does it change in a sentence?
Both words are masculine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of caillou is /ka.ju/ and it has two syllables.
Did you know?
- In French, the word galet is used not only for beach stones but also to describe the smooth, rounded shape of certain architectural stones and types of pastry.
- The origin of caillou is somewhat mysterious to linguists, with some suggesting it might stem from a Gaulish root rather than Latin.
- In a playful or childish context, caillou can be used to refer to a small, hard piece of candy that resembles a pebble.
Examples in context
- J'ai un caillou dans ma chaussure.I have a pebble in my shoe.This sentence is useful for describing an object inside a shoe using caillou.Tatoeba #3307587 by Malape, translation #2258774 by _undertoad
- C'est plus petit qu'un rocher et plus grand qu'un caillou.It's smaller than a boulder and larger than a pebble.This sentence is useful for comparing the relative sizes of a boulder, a pebble and a stone using caillou.Tatoeba #10366541 by lbdx, translation #8775132 by moman
- Le galet que j'ai jeté a ricoché sur la surface de l'eau.The pebble I threw skipped along the surface of the water.This sentence is useful for describing the action of a stone skipping on water using galet.Tatoeba #10366540 by lbdx, translation #279679 by CM
- L'enfant a trouvé un joli caillou à la plage.The child found a beautiful pebble at the beach.
- Les galets le long de la rivière étaient polis et lisses.The pebbles along the river were polished and smooth.
- Attention à ne pas glisser sur les graviers près de la rivière.Be careful not to slip on the pebbles near the river.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Léa and Hugo are walking along a riverbank.
- LéaRegarde ce petit caillou blanc, Hugo.Look at this little white pebble, Hugo.
- HugoIl est très lisse, il vient de la rivière ?It is very smooth, did it come from the river?
- LéaOui, je l'ai ramassé près de l'eau.Yes, I picked it up near the water.
- HugoIl est joli, garde-le dans ta poche.It is pretty, keep it in your pocket.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pebble” translations and entries caillou, galet, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries caillou, galet, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
