French word

nounou

Pronunciation

IPA/nunu/

Meaning

  • feminine nounbabysitter

Example

Nous avons engagé une nounou pour la soirée.

We hired a babysitter for the evening.

Illustration for nounou (babysitter)

More examples

La nounou accompagne les enfants à l'école tous les matins.

The nanny takes the children to school every morning.

Core concept

A familiar caregiver hired to keep children safe and occupied in their home for an evening or on a regular basis.

Common phrases

  • une nounou à plein temps

    a full-time nanny

  • chercher une nounou

    look for a nanny

Similar words

baby-sitter: A caregiver who watches children for a few hours, often at night or during an outing.
nourrice: A caregiver who looks after children regularly in a family home.
assistante maternelle: A qualified childcare professional who cares for children during the day at home or in a facility.
garde d'enfants: A general term for the work or role of caring for children in a family home.

Definition in French

Personne chargée par des parents de garder et de prendre soin des enfants pour une soirée, une garde régulière ou un dépannage occasionnel.

Word origin

Nounou is a familiar reduplicated form derived from nourrice, which ultimately comes from the Latin noun nutrix for a nurse or foster mother.

Usage tips

  • Nounou is normally feminine in French, so ordinary usage has une nounou even when the caregiver's name is unknown.

Other meanings

  • nannynoun

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