How to Say "Wrapping Paper" in French

papier cadeau

The English phrase "wrapping paper" is papier cadeau in French.

This phrase refers to paper used for wrapping parcels or presents.

Meaning: paper used for wrapping parcels or presents (noun)

What does it mean word for word?

Literally, papier cadeau means "gift paper".

While papier cadeau is used specifically for gift wrap, you might use papier d'emballage to refer more generally to any paper used for packaging.

Because papier is a masculine noun, you use the partitive article du to mean "some" wrapping paper, resulting in the phrase du papier cadeau.

The word cadeau is a linguistic relative of the English word 'cadet', as both share a root in the Latin capitellum.
French has no single word for 'wrapping', so it uses cadeau to describe the purpose of the paper rather than the action of wrapping it.
While papier cadeau is standard, you may see papier à motifs used specifically when the paper has a decorative pattern, regardless of whether it is for a gift.

As-tu du papier cadeau ?
Do you have any wrapping paper?
This sentence is useful for asking if someone has any papier cadeau.
Tatoeba #11934154 by lbdx, translation #4013865 by CK
Elle est allée acheter du papier cadeau.
She went and bought wrapping paper.
This sentence shows how to say someone went to buy papier cadeau.
Tatoeba #10390646 by Aghsi_n_Unezruf, translation #13823827 by tieguy
Pour les fêtes, j'ai acheté du papier d'emballage coloré.
For the holidays, I bought colorful wrapping paper.
J'ai trouvé du papier cadeau à motifs pour l'anniversaire de mon ami.
I found patterned gift paper for my friend's birthday.
Je dois acheter du papier-cadeau pour le cadeau de Noël de ma nièce.
I need to buy wrapping paper for my niece's Christmas gift.
J'ai besoin de papier cadeau bleu.
I need blue wrapping paper.

Gabriel and Manon are preparing for a birthday party.

Sources

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