French word

cadeau

Pronunciation

IPA/kado/

Meaning

  • masculine noungift

Example

J'ai acheté un cadeau pour ton anniversaire.

I bought a gift for your birthday.

Illustration for cadeau (gift)

More examples

Elle m'a offert un cadeau pour me remercier.

She gave me a gift to thank me.

Core concept

A material object or symbolic gesture presented to mark affection, gratitude, or a special occasion.

Common phrases

  • offrir un cadeau

    offer a gift

  • recevoir un cadeau

    receive a gift

  • un cadeau d'anniversaire

    birthday gift

  • cadeau surprise

    surprise gift

Similar words

présent: An item or token given as a gift.
surprise: An event or item secretly prepared to astonish its recipient.
souvenir: A small item kept as a reminder of a trip or memorable event.

Definition in French

Présent matériel ou symbolique donné à une personne pour lui faire plaisir, remercier ou marquer un événement.

Word origin

French borrowed cadeau from Occitan capdel, which derives from Latin capitellum, a diminutive of caput 'head'; the word later acquired its modern sense of a gift.

Usage tips

  • Offrir un cadeau is a common way to say 'give a gift', while faire un cadeau also means to give someone a gift.

Word lists with this word