Caillou vs. galet

The French language possesses a rich vocabulary to describe stones of various sizes and characteristics. Among these, the words 'caillou' and 'galet' both refer to small stones but differ in their specific meanings and usage. Understanding the distinction between these two terms can provide insight into the nuances of the French language.

Caillou

The word 'caillou' typically refers to a small rock with a rough surface, which can vary greatly in shape and size. It is commonly used to describe stones that one might find on a path or in a garden.
J'ai marché sur un caillou pointu et je me suis fait mal au pied.
(I stepped on a sharp pebble and hurt my foot.)
Les enfants jouent avec des cailloux qu'ils trouvent dans le parc.
(The children play with pebbles they find at the park.)
Il y avait des cailloux partout sur le sentier de randonnée.
(There were pebbles all over the hiking trail.)

Galet

A 'galet' is usually a larger, smoother, and rounded pebble, often found on beaches and riverbeds after being polished over time by water movement. The term emphasizes the stone's rounded shape and smooth texture, distinguishing it from rougher stones like 'caillou'.
Nous avons collectionné des galets sur la plage pour décorer le jardin.
(We collected smooth pebbles from the beach to decorate the garden.)
Les galets sont souvent utilisés en massage car leur surface lisse glisse facilement sur la peau.
(Pebbles are often used for massages because their smooth surface glides easily on the skin.)
Le galet roulé par les vagues était d'une forme parfaite pour sauter à la surface de l'eau.
(The wave-polished pebble was perfectly shaped for skipping over the water's surface.)

Summary

In essence, while both 'caillou' and 'galet' refer to small stones, 'caillou' generally denotes a rougher, smaller irregularly shaped rock one might encounter on dry land, whereas 'galet' suggests a smoother, rounder stone that has been shaped by water action, like those typically found on beaches or riverbanks. These terms reflect the stones' origins and textures within French vocabulary describing nature's diversity.