chouette
great / lovely / cool
Beginner Adjective
🔊
Pronunciation
/ʃwɛt/
💡
Cultural Note
Literally means 'owl,' but has been used to mean 'great/nice/cool' since the 19th century. It's the wholesome, family-friendly version of slang approval — your grandmother says 'chouette,' your cool cousin says 'chanmé.' It's warm and genuine without being overly enthusiastic. Think of it as the French 'lovely.' Also: 'une chouette personne' is a really nice person. Why owls became synonymous with niceness remains one of French etymology's charming mysteries.
📝 Example Sentences
C'est chouette que tu puisses venir ce weekend !
It's great that you can come this weekend!
On a passé une chouette soirée ensemble.
We had a lovely evening together.
📊 Adjective Forms
| Gender | Form |
|---|---|
| feminine | chouette |
| masculine | chouette |
| feminine_plural | chouettes |
| masculine_plural | chouettes |