oreiller
/ɔ.ʁɛ.je/masculine
The French word for pillow is oreiller. Wiktionary also lists têtière and coussin.
Meaning: soft cushion used to support the head in bed (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| oreiller | /ɔ.ʁɛ.je/ /ɔ.ʁe.je/ |
masculine |
| têtière | /tɛ.tjɛʁ/ /te.tjɛʁ/ |
feminine |
| coussin | /ku.sɛ̃/ | masculine |
In French, the term you choose depends on whether the object is intended for sleeping, decoration or structural support.
Which one should you use?
Use oreiller specifically for the pillow you sleep on in bed. Use coussin for decorative cushions on a sofa or soft cushions that are not primarily for sleeping. Use têtière to refer to a headrest (like in a car or a specialized bed part) rather than a soft pillow.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make these words plural, add an s: oreillers is the plural of oreiller and coussins is the plural of coussin.
How do you pronounce it?
/ɔ.ʁɛ.je/
Did you know?
- The word coussin actually traces its history back to the Latin word for 'hip', suggesting it originated as a pad for sitting rather than a pad for sleeping.
- In a French hotel or luxury setting, you might encounter a traversin, which is a long, cylindrical bolster pillow used to prevent the user from rolling over.
- The word coussin can also refer to a 'cushion' of air or a protective padding in technical contexts, moving far beyond the bedroom or sofa.
Examples in context
- Ton oreiller est sale.Your pillow is dirty.This sentence shows how to describe the cleanliness of an oreiller.Tatoeba #8313005 by Julien_PDC, translation #8392021 by Smoky
- Tom a un coussin Pikachu.Tom has a Pikachu pillow.This sentence demonstrates the use of coussin for a character-themed item.Tatoeba #6886911 by Capp, translation #2774138 by Hybrid
- Elle lui jeta un oreiller.She threw a pillow at him.This sentence shows an action involving an oreiller.Tatoeba #4049519 by Scorpionvenin14, translation #4049040 by Hybrid
- Je suis fatigué, j'ai besoin de mon oreillerI am tired, I need my pillow.
- Pouvez-vous me passer mon oreiller, s'il vous plaît?Could you pass me my pillow, please?
- J'ai acheté un nouveau coussin pour mon canapé.I bought a new pillow for my couch.
- Viens t'asseoir ici, j'ai des coussins confortables.Come sit here, I have some comfy pillows.
- 42 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hugo and Manon are preparing the guest room.
- HugoManon, as-tu vu l'autre oreiller ?Manon, have you seen the other pillow?
- ManonNon, je ne le trouve pas.No, I can't find it.
- HugoJe pense qu'il est dans le placard.I think it is in the closet.
- ManonAh, oui, le voilà !Ah, yes, here it is!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pillow” translations and entries oreiller, têtière, coussin, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries coussin, oreiller, têtière, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
