chatouilleux

ticklish, touchy

adjective sha-too-YUH Rare

Origin: from chatouiller 'to tickle' + -eux

Also means

easily offended, oversensitive

Usage Note

Chatouilleux covers both physical ticklishness (être chatouilleux sous les bras — to be ticklish under the arms) and figurative hypersensitivity (il est chatouilleux sur ce sujet — he's touchy about that subject). The feminine is chatouilleuse. The related verb chatouiller also means to tickle one's curiosity.

Examples

"Ne le taquine pas, il est très chatouilleux."

Natural Translation

Don't tease him, he is very touchy.

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