câlin

cuddle

noun adjective kah-LAN Rare

Also means

hug

Usage Note

câlin as a noun means a tender embrace; as an adjective (câlin, câline) it describes a cuddly or affectionate person or animal. Faire un câlin (to give a cuddle) is the standard expression. The -in ending is silent: the final n nasalises the vowel and is not pronounced separately.

Examples

"L'enfant demande un câlin à sa mère."

Natural Translation

The child asks his mother for a cuddle.

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