French · Home, Clothes & Daily Life

"Gift" in French: cadeau

le cadeau

Say it: ka-DOHmasculine · le cadeaunoun/ka.do/

Gift in French is le cadeau, masculine. Plural is les cadeaux. Offrir un cadeau means to give a gift.

Birthday shopping

Je cherche un cadeau pour mon frère.
I'm looking for a gift for my brother.
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How to pronounce cadeau

Say it

ka-DOH

/ka.do/

Cadeau: ka-DOH. Plural cadeaux sounds the same. Soft d.

"Gift" in French: quick reference

FrenchEnglish
le cadeauthe gift

Default noun.

un cadeaua gift

Buying or giving.

les cadeauxthe gifts

Plural in -x.

offrir un cadeauto give a gift

Verb + noun.

How to use cadeau in real life

  1. 1Birthday shopping

    Je cherche un cadeau pour mon frère.

    I'm looking for a gift for my brother.

    Un cadeau.

  2. 2Opening presents

    Ouvre ton cadeau avant le gâteau.

    Open your gift before the cake.

    Ton cadeau.

  3. 3Holiday haul

    Les cadeaux sont sous le sapin.

    The gifts are under the tree.

    Les cadeaux.

Mistakes English speakers make with cadeau

Incorrect: Les cadeaus.

Correct: Les cadeaux.

Plural of cadeau is cadeaux.

Incorrect: La cadeau.

Correct: Le cadeau.

Cadeau is masculine.

Good to know

A thoughtful small cadeau beats an oversized one. In France, flowers, chocolates, or a bottle often work; skip chrysanthemums for happy gifts—they're cemetery flowers.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Wrapping before a party

  1. ChatPal

    Tu as fini le papier pour le cadeau ?

    Did you finish the paper for the gift?

  2. You

    Presque. Le cadeau est un peu trop grand.

    Almost. The gift is a bit too big.

  3. ChatPal

    Prends le grand sac. Les cadeaux passent mieux dedans.

    Take the big bag. Gifts fit better in there.

  4. You

    Bonne idée.

    Good idea.

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"Gift" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Gift" in French

How do you say gift in French?

Le cadeau.

How do you say gifts?

Les cadeaux.

How do you say to give a gift?

Offrir un cadeau.

How do you pronounce cadeau?

ka-DOH.

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