minois

pretty face, cute face

noun mee-NWAH Rare

Usage Note

Minois is an affectionate, slightly literary word for a child's or young woman's pretty face. It is always masculine and invariable in spelling ('un joli minois', 'de jolis minois'). The word is gentle and endearing — you would use it about a charming child or a young woman, never of an adult man. It derives from mine ('face, expression').

Examples

"La petite avait un minois adorable."

Natural Translation

The little girl had an adorable face.

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