Les mots doux
Bisou and bisous: the French kiss parents give children
Bisou means a kiss, the friendly everyday kind: a kiss on the cheek, on a bumped elbow, at the bedroom door. Un bisou is one kiss and des bisous are more. At the end of a message, bisous means kisses, like xx.
un bisou
a kiss
Say it uhn bee-ZOO
- One kiss
- un bisou Say it uhn bee-ZOO
- Lots of kisses
- des bisous Say it day bee-ZOO
- A big kiss
- un gros bisou Say it uhn groh bee-ZOO
Five ways to say it today
- Un bisou ? A kiss? Say it uhn bee-ZOO
- Fais-moi un bisou. Give me a kiss. Say it fay-MWA uhn bee-ZOO
- Un bisou magique. A magic kiss. Say it uhn bee-ZOO ma-ZHEEK For bumps and scrapes.
- Un bisou pour papa. A kiss for Daddy. Say it uhn bee-ZOO poor pa-PA
- Gros bisous ! Big kisses! Say it groh bee-ZOO How French messages and cards often end.
Bisou or bisous?
Bisou is one kiss, bisous more than one. They sound identical, because the s is silent. At the end of a text or a card, bisous or gros bisous is the French xx.
Bisou or la bise?
La bise is the greeting adults do, cheek to cheek, two kisses or more depending on the region. A bisou is the warm one you give your child. Your toddler is in the bisou business.
The magic kiss
Bumped heads in French houses get un bisou magique, a magic kiss. It works exactly the way yours does: completely.
One thing to do tonight
At the door, before the light goes out: Un bisou ? Wait for it. Then bonne nuit.
Free bedtime script
Bedtime has room for a bisou
The Le Dodo script walks you from pyjamas to lights out. The bisou at the door is yours to add.
Ten bedtime phrases, each with a say-it guide, on one page for the bedroom door.
Voilà, it's on its way
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That didn't send, but the script is still yours.
Download it now (PDF)Questions parents ask
What does bisou mean?
A kiss, the friendly or family kind.
What does bisous mean at the end of a message?
Kisses, like xx. Gros bisous means big kisses.
What's the difference between bisou and bise?
La bise is the cheek-to-cheek greeting adults give each other. Un bisou is a kiss, often for children and family.
How do you say bisou?
bee-ZOO, with the stress on the end. The s sounds like a z, and in bisous the final s is silent.
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Updated 16 October 2026