chatouiller
/ʃa.tu.je/
To tickle in French is chatouiller. If unsure, use chatouiller. Wiktionary also lists faire guili-guili.
Meaning: to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation (verb)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA |
|---|---|
| chatouiller | /ʃa.tu.je/ |
| faire guili-guili |
The term refers to touching someone in a way that causes a tingling sensation.
Which one should you use?
chatouiller is the standard, neutral verb used to express the action of tickling. In contrast, faire guili-guili is more colloquial and is often used in a childish or playful context.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
chatouiller is the standard and most common way to say tickle. faire guili-guili is an informal and playful expression, frequently used when playing with children.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/ʃa.tu.je/
When do people say it?
The onomatopoeic term guili-guili provides a playful, informal way to describe the act of tickling.
Did you know?
- The word chatouiller is related to the Proto-Indo-European root geyd-, which meant 'to stick' or 'to jab'.
- In many French-speaking families, faire guili-guili is often used as a verbal cue or a 'threat' before the physical action begins to build anticipation in children.
- In French, the concept of being 'ticklish' is expressed using the adjective chatouilleux, which describes a person's sensitivity rather than the action.
Examples in context
- On ne peut pas se chatouiller soi-même.You can't tickle yourself.This sentence shows that you cannot tickle yourself using chatouiller.Tatoeba #809603 by sacredceltic, translation #665518 by darinmex
- Pourquoi ne pouvons-nous pas nous chatouiller nous-mêmes ?Why can't we tickle ourselves?This sentence uses chatouiller to ask why we cannot tickle ourselves.Tatoeba #3968 by TRANG, translation #2153 by Tesseract42
- Pourquoi ne pouvons-nous pas nous chatouiller ?Why can't we tickle each other?This sentence uses chatouiller to ask why we cannot tickle each other.Tatoeba #1181939 by Scott, translation #1017935 by DanaDescalza
- J'adore chatouiller mes enfants.I love tickling my children.
- Ahaha, arrête, ça me fait guili-guili!Hahaha, stop, it tickles me!
Example conversation
Emma and Gabriel are playing with a toddler in the living room.
- EmmaJe vais chatouiller le bébé.I am going to tickle the baby.
- GabrielAttention, il est très sensible.Careful, he is very sensitive.
- EmmaRegarde comme il rit !Look how he is laughing!
- GabrielC'est parce que tu le chatouilles.It is because you are tickling him.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tickle” translations and entries chatouiller, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries chatouiller, faire, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
