The ternary compounds CeCoSi and CeCoGe exhibit an antiferromagnetic ordering at 8.8 and 5.0 K, respectively. We present magnetization and specific heat measurements on these compounds and their hydrides, CeCoSiH and CeCoGeH. The hydrogen absorption reveals an original transition from antiferromagnetic to spin fluctuation behavior. CeCoSiH and CeCoGeH present a spin fluctuation temperature T-sf around 130 and 15 K, respectively. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.