French word

toutou

Pronunciation

IPA/tutu/

Meaning

  • masculine noundoggie

Example

Mon toutou joue dans le jardin.

My doggie plays in the garden.

Illustration for toutou (doggie)

More examples

Je promène toutou tous les matins.

I walk my doggie every morning.

Core concept

A warm, playful call-name used for a household dog.

Common phrases

  • mon toutou

    my doggie

  • un toutou

    a doggie

Similar words

chien: A dog in the general sense.
chiot: A young dog that was born recently.
animal de compagnie: An animal kept as a household companion.

Definition in French

Surnom affectueux et familier pour désigner un chien de compagnie, souvent employé par des enfants ou des proches.

Word origin

The noun toutou comes from the reduplication of a simple syllable, a pattern common in child-directed and affectionate speech, and became established in colloquial French during the nineteenth century.

Usage tips

  • Toutou is masculine despite its ending, so standard forms include un toutou, mon toutou, and ce toutou.

Word lists with this word