Food and Drink Vocabulary

Being mindful of the food we eat is really important. Whether we’re picking up groceries or indulging in a fancy meal in Paris, it’s essential to educate ourselves on making wise food choices.

Fruits

pomme — apple

banane — banana

orange — orange

fraise — strawberry

raisin — grape

citron — lemon

cerise — cherry

ananas — pineapple

pêche — peach

poire — pear

pastèque — watermelon

abricot — apricot

mangue — mango

framboise — raspberry

kiwi — kiwi

melon — melon

noix de coco — coconut

grenade — pomegranate

figue — fig

prune — plum

avocat — avocado

mûre — blackberry

cassis — blackcurrant

goyave — guava

litchi — lychee

papaye — papaya

anone — cherimoya

maracuja — passion fruit

mirabelle — mirabelle plum

nectarine — nectarine

carambole — starfruit

groseille — currant

mandarine — tangerine

poireau — leek

kaki — persimmon

châtaigne — chestnut

prunelle — sloe

myrtille — blueberry

noisette — hazelnut

amande — almond

arachide — peanut

papaye — pawpaw/papaw

pamplemousse — grapefruit

raisin sec — raisin

noix — walnut

anacarde — cashew nut

canneberge — cranberry

mandarine — mandarin

Vegetables

carotte — carrot

tomate — tomato

oignon — onion

ail — garlic

pomme de terre — potato

champignon — mushroom

courgette — zucchini

poivron — bell pepper

salade — lettuce

concombre — cucumber

épinard — spinach

haricot- bean

chou — cabbage

céleri — celery

radis — radish

asperge — asparagus

aubergine — eggplant

petit pois — green pea

brocoli — broccoli

navet — turnip

fenouil — fennel

poireau — leek

betterave — beetroot

artichaut — artichoke

courge — squash

panais — parsnip

endive — endive

chou-fleur — cauliflower

citrouille — pumpkin

radis noir — black radish

patate douce — sweet potatoto

potiron — winter squash

courgette jaune — yellow zucchini

Condiments

sel — salt

poivre — pepper

moutarde — mustard

ketchup — ketchup

mayonnaise — mayonnaise

vinaigre — vinegar

huile — oil

moutarde de Dijon — Dijon mustard

ail — garlic

oignon — onion

cornichon — pickle

câpres — capers

raifort — horseradish

tabasco — Tabasco sauce

citron — lemon

basilic — basil

estragon — tarragon

persil — parsley

ciboulette — chives

thym — thyme

romarin — rosemary

origan — oregano

sauge — sage

piment — chili pepper

curcuma — turmeric

cumin — cumin

gingembre — ginger

paprika — paprika

noix de muscade — nutmeg

coriandre — coriander

cannelle — cinnamon

clou de girofle — clove

cardamome — cardamom

aneth — dill

herbes de Provence — Herbs of Provence

sel de mer — sea salt

sel d’ail — garlic salt

Sauces

sauce tomate — tomato sauce

sauce béchamel — béchamel sauce

sauce hollandaise — hollandaise sauce

sauce au poivre — pepper sauce

sauce aux champignons — mushroom sauce

sauce au fromage — cheese sauce

sauce au vin — wine sauce

sauce barbecue — barbecue sauce

sauce aigre-douce — sweet and sour sauce

sauce tartare — tartar sauce

sauce aux cranberries — cranberry sauce

sauce au curry — curry sauce

sauce au miel — honey sauce

sauce au yaourt — yogurt sauce

sauce aux herbes — herb sauce

sauce au pesto — pesto sauce

sauce à l’ail — garlic sauce

sauce moutarde — mustard sauce

sauce vinaigrette — vinaigrette sauce

sauce aux olives — olive sauce

sauce provençale — Provençal sauce

sauce bordelaise — Bordelaise sauce

sauce teriyaki — teriyaki sauce

sauce soja — soy sauce

sauce aux huitres — oyster sauce

sauce aïoli — aioli sauce

Desserts

gâteau — cake

tarte — tart/pie

crème glacée — ice cream

chocolat — chocolate

crème brûlée — crème brûlée

mousse au chocolat — chocolate mousse

éclair — éclair

macaron — macaron

croissant — croissant

pain au chocolat — chocolate croissant

profiterole — profiterole

beignet — donut

madeleine — madeleine

clafoutis — clafoutis

crêpe — crepe

galette des rois — king cake

soufflé — soufflé

mille-feuille — mille-feuille

panna cotta — panna cotta

tiramisu — tiramisu

choux à la crème — cream puff

tarte aux pommes — apple tart

pain perdu — French toast

brioche — brioche

crumble — crumble

sorbet — sorbet

flan — flan/custard

chouquette — chouquette

île flottante — floating island

tarte au citron — lemon tart

sablé — shortbread cookie

charlotte — charlotte

bûche de Noël — Yule log

pain d’épices — gingerbread

pavlova — pavlova

gaufre — waffle

gâteau au fromage — cheesecake

canelé — canelé

gâteau aux carottes — carrot cake

paris-brest — paris-brest

choux — cream puff

Savoury

plat principal — main course

entrée — appetizer

soupe — soup

salade — salad

quiche — quiche

gratin — gratin/casserole

rôti — roast

sauté — sautéed

potage — broth/soup

poulet rôti — roast chicken

poisson — fish

fruits de mer — seafood

viande — meat

volaille — poultry

bœuf — beef

porc — pork

agneau — lamb

veau — veal

canard — duck

dinde — turkey

saucisse — sausage

jambon — ham

steak — steak

côtelette — chop/cutlet

brochette — skewer

burger — burger

sandwich — sandwich

tartine — open-faced sandwich

galette — galette

quenelle — dumpling

pâté — pâté

boulette — meatball

kebab — kebab

omelette — omelette

frittata — frittata

ratatouille — ratatouille

couscous — couscous

paella — paella

risotto — risotto

bœuf bourguignon — beef Bourguignon

coq au vin — coq au vin

cassoulet — cassoulet

hachis — minced meat

poêlée — stir-fry

raclette — raclette

fondu — fondue

tajine — tagine

Drinks

eau — water

café — coffee

thé — tea

jus — juice

lait — milk

chocolat chaud — hot chocolate

limonade — lemonade

soda — soda/pop

bière — beer

vin — wine

champagne — champagne

cocktail — cocktail

eau minérale — mineral water

thé glacé — iced tea

jus d’orange — orange juice

jus de pomme — apple juice

jus de raisin — grape juice

jus de tomate — tomato juice

jus de pamplemousse — grapefruit juice

café au lait — coffee with milk

cappuccino — cappuccino

expresso — espresso

latte — latte

thé vert — green tea

thé noir — black tea

thé à la menthe — mint tea

sirop — syrup

smoothie — smoothie

cocktail sans alcool — mocktail

eau gazeuse — sparkling water

eau plate — still water

eau pétillante — carbonated water

infusé — infused

thé glacé maison — homemade iced tea

café décaféiné — decaf coffee

café filtre — filter coffee

café instantané — instant coffee