French word

mou

Pronunciation

IPA/mu/

Meaning

  • adjectivesoft

Example

Le pain est mou ce matin.

The bread is soft this morning.

Illustration for mou (soft)

More examples

Ce coussin est trop mou pour dormir.

This cushion is too soft to sleep on.

Core concept

A surface or person that does not hold its shape, strength, or firmness.

Common phrases

  • pain mou

    soft bread

  • oreiller mou

    soft pillow

  • tissu mou

    soft fabric

Similar words

tendre: Tender to the touch and easy to bite through.
moelleux: Light, fluffy, and springy inside, with a soft mouthfeel.
doux: Smooth on the surface and gentle against the touch.
souple: Able to bend or stretch easily without becoming rigid.

Definition in French

Qui n'a pas de dureté au toucher et se laisse facilement déformer ; par extension, qui manque de force ou de tenue.

Word origin

The French adjective mou comes from Latin mollis by inherited development through Old French, with its physical and figurative senses linked by the idea of low resistance.

Usage tips

  • Applied to a person, argument, or policy, mou often sounds critical because it suggests weakness rather than simple softness.

Other meanings

  • weakadjective
  • slackadjective

Opposites

  • durhardadjective
  • fermefirmadjective

Related words

  • mollessesoftnessnoun
  • ramollirsoftenverb

Word lists with this word