choupinou

[Jon in FL]

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what does the word choupinou mean?

 

[Fred-erique]

C'est un terme affectueux pour dire "mon petit chou", on dit aussi parfois "mon lapinou" (mon petit lapin). Mais ce n'est pas encore admis par les dictionnaires.....

 

[edwingill]

my little pet

 

[Maine Frenchie]

I cannot find a translation for this word. I realize it must be slang but still can't find it. It was used to describe a child "Quel choupinou!"
I can guess it might mean what a darling but it's a guess and I can't figure out its origins. Does it come from the affectionate term "mon petit chou"? Anyone have a clue? Merci bien

 

[Zoulllien]

A familiar word for "very cute". I don't know the etimology, from "chou" maybe ("c'est chou" = "it's cute". The suffix -inou convey the idea of smallness.

 

[franc 91]

how sweet she/he is, but we also say it about objects (I imagine that you would say cute) I don't know that it has anything to do with choux, it just sounds nice. The feminine is choupinette

 

[Maine Frenchie]

Thank you. That was very helpful. How would you use it to describe an object? In what context? For example, I could see where you might say a toy was "cute". Is that what you mean? Or could it be used for objects in another context?

 

[franc 91]

for something that is pretty, nice to look at (sometimes it is said ironically)

 

[TeaForTwo]

I haver never personally heard this word used for an object.

Cute would be the idea, but I'm not sure it is a proper translation. I am not able to provide a good one but it should be something that gives the idea of sort of a made up word that would mean "mon-petit-mignon-à-croquer".

As said by Zoullien, "choupinou" gives the idea of "mon petit chou".

 

[franc 91]

Je viens d'y penser - on dit choupinet aussi (il y a peut-être une influence linguistique auvergnate ou occitane avec tous ces petits mots qui se terminent en ou) ma femme appelle un de nos fils Simonou

 

[TeaForTwo]

Oui, choupinet, choupinou, "mon petit lapinou", "mon petit bout'chou" (contraction de "bout de chou")...

 

[catay]

Possible equivalents:
"What a little sweetie/cutie" and if you really want to gush:
"What a little cutie/sweetie pie"

 

[AmaryllisBunny]

Je sais ce que ça veut dire, mais je ne trouve pas forcément d'équivalent en anglais.

Contexte:

Mon ami de Strasbourg me dit « coucou mon choupinou » puis il me fait un câlin.
Il y avait aussi « lapinou »...

Ma tentative: « my little cupcake ».

 

[AmaryllisBunny]

[...]

the suggestions seemed like dated terms. I have never heard a young'un say "sweetie" or even "cutie." I've seen "cutie," but never spoken.

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[Language Hound]

the suggestions seemed like dated terms. I have never heard a young'un say "sweetie" or even "cutie."

With few exceptions, French and American terms of endearment do not translate.
Americans do not lovingly address their beloved as "my flea" or "my little doe," any more than the French refer to the object of their affection as "miel."
I don't know what the age range is for your "young'uns," but I would suggest picking a term of endearment that they do use and go with that.