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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