doux
/du/
To say soft in French, use doux. If unsure, use doux. Wiktionary also lists tendre and mou.
Meaning: easily giving way under pressure (adj)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| doux | /du/ | |
| tendre | /tɑ̃dʁ/ | |
| mou | /mu/ | masculine |
doux describes pleasant sensations such as a soft breeze, a soft voice or soft light. The expression Doux comme un agneau, soft as a lamb, describes a gentle nature or something soft.
Which one should you use?
mou describes physical texture or a lack of firmness, such as a sponge or a muscle. tendre describes something tender, such as meat or a soft hearted person.
How does it change in a sentence?
The feminine of doux is douce, and the feminine of mou is molle. The plural of tendre is tendres.
How do you pronounce it?
doux is pronounced /du/, and the final x is silent.
Did you know?
- The French word doux comes from the Latin word for 'sweet'. Because of this, the same word can be used to describe both a soft fabric and a sweet taste.
- Calling someone mou in French is often a harsh social critique, suggesting they are spineless or lack character rather than just describing their physical build.
- The French word tendre for 'soft' is also a verb meaning 'to stretch' or 'to aim'.
Examples in context
- Il a le cœur tendre.He's very soft-hearted.le cœur tendre means soft hearted.Tatoeba #1727875 by sacredceltic, translation #416374 by blay_paul
- C'est mou au toucher.It's soft to the touch.mou describes how something feels to the touch.Tatoeba #6630420 by GB3, translation #6629697 by Eccles17
- J'aime que ce soit doux.I like that it is soft.doux here means soft and pleasant.Tatoeba #1122965 by sacredceltic, translation #1122341 by cntrational
- Les coussins sont douxThe cushions are soft
- un gâteau moelleuxA soft cake
- La viande est tendreThe meat is soft/tender
- La chaise n'est pas dureThe chair is not hard
- 34 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Emma is checking the texture of a new cushion.
- HugoCe coussin est vraiment doux.This cushion is really soft.
- EmmaOui, il est très agréable.Yes, it is very pleasant.
- HugoEst-ce qu'il est doux en dessous aussi ?Is it soft underneath too?
- EmmaNon, le tissu est un peu rigide.No, the fabric is a bit stiff.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “soft” translations and entries doux, tendre, mou, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries doux, mou, tendre, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
