# Caillou? What the hell is a "Caillou?" **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 11, 2001, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caillou-what-the-hell-is-a-caillou/75793 "2001-08-11T12:39:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2001, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caillou-what-the-hell-is-a-caillou/75793/1 "2001-08-11T12:39:00Z")
If you have a little one running around then you may have seen the cartoon “Caillou,” pronouned “Ki-ooo.” Its about a little, round-headed boy named Caillou, his sister Rosie, and his parents. Its pretty lame, as far as kid’s shows go. My question is - What kind of names is “Caillou?” I’ve never come across it before. ---
**Author:** ![Elenfair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cc9497/32.png) [@Elenfair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elenfair)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2001, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caillou-what-the-hell-is-a-caillou/75793/2 "2001-08-11T12:49:43Z")
Caillou is actually French for “small rock”, or “pebble.” I believe the character of Caillou is a francophone (canadian) creation. It was later adapted for television in the cartoon format kids know and love. Elly (whose mother tongue is French) ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2001, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caillou-what-the-hell-is-a-caillou/75793/3 "2001-08-11T14:19:03Z")
In France the Rolling Stones are called _]Les Cailloux Roulants_. Or just _Les Cailloux_ for short. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2001, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caillou-what-the-hell-is-a-caillou/75793/4 "2001-08-11T14:22:04Z")
In Malay, _kayu_ means ‘wood’ or ‘tree’. ---
**Author:** ![Sue\_Duhnym](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@Sue\_Duhnym](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sue_Duhnym)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2001, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caillou-what-the-hell-is-a-caillou/75793/5 "2001-08-11T15:09:55Z")
Caillou was originally a French-Canadian show. My husband hates the show…“and what’s with the bald head? Does he have cancer?” He’s more of a _Clifford_ fan, what with John Ritter being The Big Red Dog himself. Personally, I love the show, if only because ToddlerNym goes into what I’ve dubbed “The Caillou Trance” and it gives me an uninterrupted half hour to cruise the SDMB. ---
**Author:** ![kellibelli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e480ec/32.png) [@kellibelli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kellibelli)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2001, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caillou-what-the-hell-is-a-caillou/75793/6 "2001-08-11T16:40:39Z")
The Caillou trance is well known and documented, its toddler weed. I hate that little bald freak, I despise the whiny tone ofhis voice, I am disgusted my his namby pamby parents! Cailou: WHAAAAAAA I am scared of the baig bad mean scary puppy! WHAAAAAAA! Parents: Well, son, I will take the day off work and draw pictures with you, then everythig will be all right. MY response: You fucking SPAZ!!! its a PUPPY!!! dont be so stupid ya little goof! \ I hate that kid. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2001, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caillou-what-the-hell-is-a-caillou/75793/7 "2001-08-11T20:11:17Z")
And actor Alan Caillou has been an alien-at-large on one of the Star Trek series. ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2001, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caillou-what-the-hell-is-a-caillou/75793/8 "2001-08-11T20:43:53Z")
[sub][sup]I like Caillou. A lot. I know the words to the song.[/sup][/sub] ---
**Author:** ![kellibelli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e480ec/32.png) [@kellibelli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kellibelli)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2001, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caillou-what-the-hell-is-a-caillou/75793/9 "2001-08-12T05:46:00Z")
I’m just a kid whose four each day I grow some more I like exploring I’m cailoux Growing up is not so tough 'cept when I’ve had enough Thers lotsa fun stuff I’m Cailloux Excuse me while I go boil my brain ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2001, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caillou-what-the-hell-is-a-caillou/75793/10 "2001-08-12T13:38:46Z")
I figured that there was a French connection. You and I are thinking alike on this one kellibelli - luckily Lilly isn’t too enamored of the show. She does, however, call Charlie Brown “Caillou” when she sees the comics. Sorry about that, Sparky Schultz. Blue’s Clues is a big hit at our house, as is the old standby Sesame Street. I can actually watch Sesame Street and be entertained - there was a little segment on recently about where thoughts and dreams come from (“In Your Head”) that had a song by Nina Simone that was terrific. After the Queen went to sleep I caught a mini-buzz and watched it again - even better the second time around. I also know all the words to the “Martian Girlfriend Song,” (she’s got 9 of everything). Thanks for the information. Or should I say, merci’?