Would you like to know the basics of French food vocabulary? French cuisine is renowned for its rich flavors, exquisite presentation, and attention to detail. However, to fully appreciate French cuisine, one must first understand the language used to describe it. Let’s get to know more about this in today’s epic guide!
French Food Vocabulary For Vegetables
French food is renowned for using fresh, high-quality ingredients, and vegetables are no exception. As a result, vegetables play an important role in French cuisine, whether they are used as a garnish, a side dish, or the main event. Whether you’re a Francophile or simply looking to expand your culinary vocabulary, these words could be handy.
| English | French |
|---|---|
| Artichoke | Artichaut |
| Avocado | Avocat |
| Broccoli | Brocoli |
| Carrot | Carotte |
| Cauliflower | Chou-fleur |
| Cucumber | Concombre |
| Eggplant | Aubergine |
| Garlic | Ail |
| Green beans | Haricot vert |
| Green vegetables | Légumes verts |
| Leek | Poireau |
| Mushroom | Champignon |
| Onion | Oignon |
| Peas | Petit pois |
| Potato | Pomme de terre |
| Shallot | Échalote |
| Tomato | Tomate |
| Turnip | Navet |
| Zucchini | Courgette |
French Food Vocabulary For Meat
French cuisine offers various meat dishes that will tantalize your taste buds, from beef to chicken, pork to lamb. So whether you’re ordering steak frites or coq au vin, this guide will help you understand the different cuts of meat. Here are the most common types of meat.
| English | French |
|---|---|
| Bacon | Le bacon |
| Bacon bits | Les lardons |
| Beef | Le boeuf |
| Beef tongue | La langue de boeuf |
| Chicken | Le poulet |
| Chorizo | Le chorizo |
| Duck | Le canard |
| Foie gras | Le foie gras |
| Ham | Le jambon |
| Horse | Le cheval |
| Kidneys | Les rognons |
| Lamb | L’agneau |
| Pâté | Le pâté |
| Pork | Le porc |
| Rabbit | Le lapin |
| Sausage | Le saucisson |
| Tripe | Les tripes |
| Turkey | La dinde |
| Veal | Le veau |
French Food Vocabulary For Seafood
France’s long coastline and proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, and the English Channel make it a prime destination for seafood lovers. No wonder why French cuisine is renowned for using fresh, high-quality seafood in their top dishes. Here are the most common ones.
| English | French |
|---|---|
| Anchovies | Les anchois |
| Crab | Le crabe |
| Crayfish | Les écrevisses |
| Dublin Bay prawns | Les langoustines |
| Hake | Le merlu |
| Lobster | Le homard |
| Mackerel | Le maquereau |
| Mussels | Les moules |
| Oysters | Les huîtres |
| Salmon | Le saumon |
| Sardine | La sardine |
| Scallop | Les coquilles Saint-Jacques |
| Sea bass | Le bar |
| Sea urchins | Les oursins |
| Shrimp | Les crevettes |
| Sole | La sole |
| Spider crab | Le tourteau |
| Trout | La truite |
| Tuna | Le thon |
French Food Vocabulary For Fruit
French cuisine is known for its emphasis on using fresh fruits. From classic fruits like apples and oranges to more exotic options like lychees and figs, French menus offer a range of fruit-based dishes and desserts for every taste. Here are some common fruit terms.
| English | French |
|---|---|
| Apple | La pomme |
| Apricot | L’abricot |
| Banana | La banane |
| Cherry | La cerise |
| Fig | La figue |
| Grape | Le raisin |
| Grapefruit | Le pamplemousse |
| Lemon | Le citron |
| Mango | La mangue |
| Melon | Le melon |
| Orange | L’orange |
| Peach | La pêche |
| Pear | La poire |
| Pineapple | L’ananas |
| Plum | La prune |
| Pomegranate | La grenade |
| Raspberry | La framboise |
| Strawberry | La fraise |
| Watermelon | La pastèque |
French Food Vocabulary For Desserts
French desserts have a reputation for being some of the most decadent and delicious in the world, with classics like crème brûlée, tarte Tatin, and macarons known and loved worldwide, especially by English speakers. Whether dining in a Parisian café or a fancy restaurant, knowing some key French dessert vocabulary can help you use the menu and order confidently.
| English | French |
|---|---|
| Apple tart | La tarte aux pommes |
| Brioche | La brioche |
| Cheesecake | Le gâteau au fromage |
| Chocolate mousse | La mousse au chocolat |
| Clafoutis | Le clafoutis |
| Crepe | La crêpe |
| Crème brûlée | La crème brûlée |
| Eclairs | Les éclairs |
| French toast | Le pain perdu |
| Ice cream | La glace |
| Lemon tart | La tarte au citron |
| Macaron | Le macaron |
| Meringue | La meringue |
| Sorbet | Le sorbet |
| Tarte Tatin | La tarte tatin |
| Tartlet | La tartelette |
| Waffle | La gaufre |
French Food Vocabulary For Dairy Products
From the humble Camembert to the luxurious crème fraîche, French dairy products are known for their rich and indulgent flavors. In addition, they are an essential part of French culture. These ingredients are often used in dishes such as quiches, sauces, and soups and are essential to many classic French recipes and an integral part of many restaurant menus and dishes. Here are the most common dairy products, along with their English translations.
| English | French |
|---|---|
| Butter | Le beurre |
| Milk | Le lait |
| Cream | La crème |
| Cheese | Le fromage |
| Yogurt | Le yaourt |
| Curdled milk | Le lait caillé |
| Fermented milk | Le lait fermenté |
| Condensed milk | Le lait concentré |
| Powdered milk | Le lait en poudre |
| Evaporated milk | Le lait évaporé |
| White cheese | Le fromage blanc |
| Goat cheese | Le fromage de chèvre |
| Sheep cheese | Le fromage de brebis |
| Processed cheese | Le fromage fondu |
| Grated cheese | Le fromage râpé |
| Fresh cheese | Le fromage frais |
| Aged cheese | Le fromage affiné |
| Blue cheese | Le fromage bleu |
French Daily Meals
It is also essential to understand the words for the daily meals so that you can order food at French restaurants and French people can communicate with you. Here are the most common French dishes and meals.
| English | French |
|---|---|
| Afternoon snack | Le goûter |
| Aperitif | L’apéritif |
| Breakfast | Le petit déjeuner |
| Dinner | Le dîner |
| Lunch | Le déjeuner |
| Supper | Le souper |
How To Order Food At The Restaurant
If you want to communicate to another French person what you would like to do while at the restaurant, here are some of the most common phrases.
| English | French |
|---|---|
| Hello, I would like a table for [number of people], please. | Bonjour, je voudrais une table pour [nombre de personnes], s’il vous plaît. |
| What do you recommend? | Qu’est-ce que vous me conseillez ? |
| I’ll have the [name of the dish]. | Je vais prendre le/la [nom du plat]. |
| I’m allergic to [allergy]. | Je suis allergique à [allergie]. |
| Is it possible to change [ingredient]? | Est-ce que c’est possible de changer [ingrédient]? |
| The bill, please. | L’addition, s’il vous plaît. |
Other Essential Words
There are many other essential words to know to effectively understand and communicate with others during meals.
Here are some more common and essential words worth knowing.
- Bon appétit – Enjoy your meal
- Bread – Pain
- Cooked – cuite
- Dinner time – l’Heure du dîner
- Fish – Le poisson
- French fries – Frites
- Goat milk – Lait de chèvre
- Green beans – Haricots verts
- Herbal tea – Thé aux herbes
- Main course/main dish – Plat principal
- Meat – La viande
- Medium rare – Mi-saignant cuit
- Order meat – commander de la viande
- Potatoes – patates
- Red wine – vin rouge
- Vegetarian diet – Régime végétarien
- White wine – vin blanc
- Hot chocolate – Chocolat chaud
Would you like to learn more about the French language?
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