Nanoparticle generation by laser ablation of a solid target in a liquid environment is an easy, fast, and “green” method for a large scale production of nanomaterials with tailored properties. In this letter we report the synthesis of CdTe nanoparticles by femtosecond laser [387 nm, 180 fs, 1 kHz, pulse energy = 6 μJ (fluence = 1.7 J/cm2)] ablation of the target material. Nanoparticles with diameters from ∼ 2 up to ∼ 25 nm were observed to be formed in the colloidal solution. Their size distribution follows the log-normal function with a statistical median diameter of ≈7.1 nm. Their crystal structure is the same as that of the bulk material (cubic zincblende) and they are slightly Cd-rich (Cd:Te percentage ratio ∼ 1:0.9). Photoluminescence emission from the produced nanoparticles was detected in the deep red ( ∼ 652 nm).