Doux or mou: soft to touch or soft when you press?
Choose doux for a gentle feel, voice or mild weather, and mou for something that lacks firmness. Compare examples, feminine forms and a cushion-shopping scene.
In short
Choose doux for pleasant softness, gentleness or mildness: une écharpe douce, une voix douce, un temps doux. Choose mou for something that yields or lacks firmness: un coussin mou. The same cushion can be doux au toucher and trop mou to support your back.
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What is the difference between doux and mou?
douxsoft, gentle, mild
Focus: a gentle or pleasant quality
doux au toucher; une voix douce
Cette couverture est douce au toucher.
This blanket feels soft to the touch.
Elle parle d’une voix douce.
She speaks in a gentle voice.
mousoft, not firm
Focus: how easily something gives way under pressure
un coussin mou; une pâte molle
Ce coussin est trop mou pour mon dos.
This cushion is too soft for my back.
La pâte est encore molle.
The dough is still soft.
Run your hand over the cover: does it feel pleasant against your skin? That is doux au toucher. Press the cushion: does it give way too easily? That is mou. Both descriptions can be true at once, so the English word “soft” needs a more precise French choice.
- Customer
La housse est très douce. Je peux essayer le coussin ?
The cover is very soft. Can I try the cushion?
- Assistant
Bien sûr. Asseyez-vous.
Of course. Sit down.
- Customer
Il est trop mou pour moi. Je préfère un coussin plus ferme.
It is too soft for me. I prefer a firmer cushion.
- Assistant
Essayez celui-ci. La housse est douce aussi, mais le coussin est plus ferme.
Try this one. The cover is soft too, but the cushion is firmer.
What are the feminine forms of doux and mou?
| Noun pattern | Doux | Mou |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine singular | un tissu doux | un coussin mou |
| Feminine singular | une couverture douce | une pâte molle |
| Masculine plural | des tissus doux | des coussins mous |
| Feminine plural | des couvertures douces | des pâtes molles |
For doux, replace -x with -ce in the feminine: douce. For mou, the feminine is molle, with two ls. The masculine plural doux keeps its spelling, while mou becomes mous.
What else does doux mean in French?
Il fait doux aujourd’hui. On peut déjeuner dehors.
It is mild today. We can have lunch outside.
Doux describes a comfortable, mild temperature.
Nora est douce avec les enfants. Elle leur parle calmement.
Nora is gentle with children. She speaks to them calmly.
Douce describes a gentle manner.
Sa réaction a été molle : il a à peine répondu.
His reaction was weak: he barely replied.
Molle criticises a lack of energy or force. Use douce when you mean gentle.