Usage Note
Douceur is an abstract noun covering physical softness (silk, a breeze), sweet taste, and gentle temperament — the three senses overlap poetically. En douceur ('gently, smoothly') is a very common adverbial phrase, e.g. atterrir en douceur ('to land smoothly'). The plural des douceurs can mean 'sweet treats' or 'gentle pleasures'.
Examples
"Elle lui parla avec une grande douceur."
Natural Translation
She spoke to him with great gentleness.
Free starter pack
Building your French vocabulary?
Get the 100 most common French words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.
Related Words
Explore French by topic
