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douceur

Intermediate (B1)

IPA: /duˈsɜr/

KK: /duˈsɜr/

noun
Definition

A gift or money given to someone as a way to show appreciation or to persuade them.


Example

He left a douceur for the waiter after enjoying a great meal.


Conversation
Sloth A
Did you hear about the new café that opened downtown?
Sloth B
Yeah, I went there yesterday, and the pastries were amazing!
Sloth A
I heard they even give a little douceur with your coffee.
Sloth B
That's a nice touch! I love when places do that.

Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
tip
gratuity
gift
Antonyms
penalty
fine
charge
Root Explanation

Douceur comes from Old French 'douceur' (meaning sweetness or gentleness), which is derived from 'doux' (meaning sweet or soft). The word 'douceur' refers to a quality of sweetness or gentleness, often in a pleasant or agreeable manner.

Memory Tip

Think of 'doux' meaning sweet or soft, and remember that 'douceur' describes a quality of sweetness or gentleness.

Visually Confused Words

No commonly confused words.

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