bouton
/bu.tɔ̃/masculine
The French word for pimple is bouton.
bouton refers to an inflamed spot on the surface of the skin. While bouton can refer to any small bump or pimple, bouton d'acné is used specifically for acne-related spots.
Meaning: inflamed spot on the surface of the skin (noun)
Which one should you use?
Note that bouton is polysemous, meaning it can mean both a pimple and a button (on clothing).
How does it change in a sentence?
bouton is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/bu.tɔ̃/
Did you know?
- In some French contexts, the word bouton is used in the phrase bouton de rose to describe a rosebud, emphasizing the aesthetic beauty of a 'bump'.
- The Italian word bottone and the Spanish word botón are not original Latin developments but were actually borrowed from the French bouton.
- In French, if you say you have a bouton d'or, you are not describing a pimple, but rather a 'golden button' or a specific type of flower.
Examples in context
- J'ai percé un bouton.I popped a pimple.This sentence shows how to use bouton when talking about popping one.Tatoeba #14036350 by Myrano_, translation #8098633 by iT4LL
- Un bouton d'acné est apparu sur le nez de Tom.A pimple appeared on Tom's nose.This sentence uses bouton to describe an acne pimple appearing on someone's nose.Tatoeba #12254871 by Rovo, translation #12255648 by Miktsoanit
- Quand le boutonneux occupe la salle de bains, il en a pour au moins deux heures !When pimple face uses the bathroom, it takes him at least two hours!This sentence uses a derivative of bouton to describe someone with pimples.Tatoeba #1722862 by Rovo, translation #1723767 by belgavox
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chloé and Nathan are getting ready for a party.
- ChloéRegarde, j'ai un gros bouton sur le front !Look, I have a big pimple on my forehead!
- NathanNe t'inquiète pas, on ne le voit presque pas.Don't worry, you can hardly see it.
- ChloéJe vais essayer de cacher ce bouton avec du maquillage.I'm going to try to hide this pimple with makeup.
- NathanC'est une bonne idée, Chloé.That's a good idea, Chloé.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pimple” translations and entries bouton, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bouton, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
