“300 days of sunshine” sounds like a tourist slogan… but it’s surprisingly accurate (although less so this year!). Even in winter, days are often bright and clear, and temperatures are much milder than in northern France or the UK. You still get four seasons, but without the long stretches of grey that many people are trying to escape. Summers can be hot — sometimes very hot — but life adapts. Early mornings, shaded terraces, slower afternoons and regular trips to the sea make it manageable.For many people, it’s not about constant heat. It’s about light, blue skies, and being able to live outdoors much of the year. 👉 How important is sunshine and climate in your decision to live in France?

So yes. Chouette is a noun and it means owl. There are numerous other words for owl (hibou, chevêche, grand-duc d’Europe) but let’s not get bogged down in ornithology! Unless you’re a twitcher, you won’t need those words for everyday life in France. Because here’s the important bit … Chouette is FAR more useful as an adjective. As an adjective, chouette = great / lovely / nice / cool. Examples you will actually hear: - J’adore Rosie. Elle est chouette. ➜ I love Rosie. She’s really nice. - La soirée était chouette. ➜ It was a great night. - C’est chouette, ça ! ➜ That’s great! Chouette is a really useful word because : - It’s informal but totally acceptable in daily life - It’s positive without being over-the-top - You can use it at work, with friends, with neighbours - You do not need to think about agreement or complexity. Just say it. If you’re ever stuck for vocabulary and want to say something was nice without sounding like a GCSE oral exam, chouette is your baby. What was chouette in your life this weekend?