cato

cato (informal, Quebec/African French slang for Catholic or goody-goody)

noun ka-TO Rare

Origin: abbreviated from catholique

Usage Note

Cato is informal/slang, mostly heard in Quebec and some African Francophone contexts, referring to someone who is Catholic or, by extension, overly pious or prudish. It can be affectionate or mildly ironic depending on tone. Use with awareness of regional variation.

Examples

"Sa mère est une vraie cato du village."

Natural Translation

His mother is a real church-going type from the village.

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