adjectivenoun

douce

soft

Word: douce

Language: French

Meaning:
The word "douce" is the feminine form of the adjective "doux" in French. It means soft, gentle, sweet, mild, or pleasant. It is used to describe something that has a soft texture, gentle nature, or a pleasant quality.


Explanation:

  • Roots:
    "Douce" comes from the Latin word "docilis," which means "easy to teach" or "pliant." Over time, the sense evolved to mean gentle or soft.

  • Gender and Number:

    • Masculine singular: doux
    • Feminine singular: douce
    • Masculine plural: doux
    • Feminine plural: douces
  • Usage examples:

    • Une voix douce = a soft/gentle voice
    • Une fragrance douce = a sweet/mild fragrance
    • Une soirée douce = a gentle/pleasant evening

Synonyms:

  • suave (soft, smooth)
  • tendre (tender)
  • agréable (pleasant)
  • moelleux / moelleuse (soft, pliant)
  • calme (calm, gentle)

Antonyms:

  • dur / dure (hard)
  • rude (rough)
  • fort / forte (strong)
  • violent(e) (violent)

Other meanings:

  • Sometimes, "douce" can be used figuratively to describe a kind or gentle temperament, such as describing a person’s personality.
  • In culinary contexts, it may refer to something sweet or mild in taste.
  • In music, "douce" could describe a soft or gentle passage or tone.

Summary:
"Douce" is a descriptive adjective in French meaning soft, gentle, sweet, or mild, which matches the feminine gender form of "doux". It is often used to describe vibrations, sensations, flavors, or emotions that are pleasant or gentle in nature.

Make “douce” part of your vocabulary.

Build your French vocabulary with flashcards, audio and spaced repetition.

Examples

Cette musique est douce.adjective

This music is soft.

La couverture douce est sur le lit.adjective

The soft blanket is on the bed.

Keep exploring French

Learn words from the content you love.

Add words from websites, books and videos, then remember them with spaced repetition (SRS).