mouchoir en papier
masculine
The English phrase 'tissue' can be translated into French as mouchoir en papier. If unsure, use mouchoir en papier. Wiktionary also lists kleenex.
Meaning: sheet of absorbent paper (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| mouchoir en papier | masculine | |
| kleenex | /kli.nɛks/ | masculine |
The term refers to a sheet of absorbent paper.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase mouchoir en papier literally translates to 'handkerchief made of paper'.
Which one should you use?
While mouchoir on its own usually refers to a reusable cloth handkerchief, mouchoir en papier specifies a disposable paper tissue.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The brand name kleenex is a colloquial way to refer to any facial tissue in spoken French.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the plural 'tissues', you change mouchoir to mouchoirs, as in des mouchoirs en papier.
Did you know?
- Historically, the cloth mouchoir was a high-status fashion accessory in the French court, whereas mouchoir en papier is purely utilitarian.
- The word mouchoir is built from the verb moucher, which means 'to blow one’s nose'.
- In France, offering a mouchoir en papier to someone is a common social gesture, but offering a cloth mouchoir can be seen as overly intimate or old-fashioned.
Examples in context
- Donne un mouchoir en papier à Tom.Give Tom a tissue.Tatoeba #7528712 by tras, translation #2261877 by CK
- Pourriez-vous me passer un mouchoir en papier, s'il vous plaît?Could you pass me a tissue, please?
- J'ai besoin d'un mouchoir en papier.I need a tissue.
- Il a laissé un mouchoir en papier sur la table.He left a tissue on the table.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chloé is sneezing and Lucas is helping her.
- LucasTu éternues beaucoup, Chloé.You are sneezing a lot, Chloé.
- ChloéOui, est-ce que tu as un mouchoir en papier ?Yes, do you have a tissue?
- LucasTiens, en voilà un pour toi.Here, here is one for you.
- ChloéMerci beaucoup, Lucas.Thank you very much, Lucas.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tissue” translations and entries mouchoir en papier, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Pronunciation from the Wiktionary entry Kleenex.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries en, mouchoir, papier, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
