Noun
/bɪˈlɛt ˌduː/
The term billet-doux refers to a love letter or a note expressing romantic feelings. It is a French phrase that translates literally to "sweet note." In English, it is primarily used in literary or romantic contexts and carries a somewhat poetic or old-fashioned connotation.
The term is not commonly used in everyday conversation and is more often found in literary texts or discussions surrounding romance and love letters. It is more likely to appear in written contexts rather than in spoken language.
Он положил любовное письмо в её сумку, надеясь, что она найдет его позже.
The author wrote a charming story about a couple exchanging secret billet-doux during the war.
Автор написал очаровательную историю о паре, обменивающейся секретными любовными письмами во время войны.
In a world dominated by texts and emails, a heartfelt billet-doux can still melt hearts.
While "billet-doux" itself is not commonly featured in idiomatic expressions, it relates closely to themes of love and romance in literature. Below are idiomatic expressions connected to love and letters, which may help contextualize its use.
После свидания он вручил ей любовное письмо, полное нежных слов.
Secret admirer - Someone who has feelings for another person but has not made their interest known.
У неё был тайный поклонник, который всегда оставлял ей маленькие записки в её шкафчике.
Written in the stars - A phrase used to describe a love that seems destined to happen.
The phrase "billet-doux" comes from French, where "billet" means a note or a short letter, and "doux" means sweet. The term has been adopted into the English language while retaining its original French significance.