Languages › French French Food Vocabulary: 'La Nourriture' Share Flipboard Email Print Amanda Hall / robertharding / Getty Images French Vocabulary Pronunciation & Conversation Grammar Resources For Teachers By ThoughtCo Team Updated on January 20, 2019 Whether you're traveling in Europe or just going out to a local French restaurant, food is one of the necessities of life. The French love la nourriture (literally, "the food"), and talking about it is one of the most common topics of French conversations. The Language of Food French food vocabulary terms are listed together with their English translations. Click on the links to bring up sound files that will allow you to hear the correct pronunciation of each word or phrase. Note that unlike in English, French food terms are generally preceded by an article such as le (the) or un (a). Where appropriate, the English translation of the term is preceded by an indication of the gender of the word, either female (f) or male (m). So, learn the terms and then Bon appétit! (Enjoy your meal!) General Terms la nourriture food avoir faim to be hungry manger to eat déjeuner to have breakfast or lunch dîner to have dinner Meals le repas meal le petit-déjeuner breakfast le déjeuner lunch le dîner dinner le goûter snack Dishes le hors d'œuvre, l'entrée appetizer * la soupe, le potage soup le plat principal main course la salade salad le dessert dessert * In American English, "entrée" refers to the main course, but in French, the term only indicates an appetizer. Places la cuisine kitchen, cooking la salle à manger dining room le restaurant restaurant Miscellaneous Terms la confiture jam le croissant croissant la farine flour les frites fries l'huile d'olive (f) olive oil la mayonnaise mayonnaise la moutarde mustard un œuf, des œufs egg, eggs le pain bread le pain grillé toast les pâtes pasta le poivre pepper le riz rice la sauce sauce, dressing, gravy le sel salt le sucre sugar Fruits le fruit fruit un abricot apricot un ananas pineapple une banane banana une cerise cherry un citron lemon un citron vert lime une fraise strawberry une framboise raspberry une mûre blackberry une myrtille blueberry une orange orange un pamplemousse grapefruit une pastèque watermelon une pêche peach une poire pear une pomme apple une prune plum un raisin grape Vegetables un légume vegetable un artichaut artichoke les asperges (f) asparagus une aubergine eggplant la carotte carrot le céleri celery le champignon mushroom le chou-fleur cauliflower le concombre cucumber les épinards (m) spinach un haricot bean la laitue lettuce un oignon onion le maïs corn les petits pois (m) peas la pomme de terre potato le radis radish la tomate tomato Meats la viande meat l'agneau (m) lamb les anchois (m) anchovies le bifteck steak la dinde turkey les escargots (m) snails le jambon ham le lapin rabbit le poisson fish le porc pork le poulet chicken le rosbif roast beef le saucisson sausage le veau veal Dairy le babeurre buttermilk le beurre butter la crème cream la crème fraîche very thick, slightly sour cream le fromage cheese le fromage blanc cream cheese la glace ice cream le lait milk le yaourt yogurt Desserts le dessert dessert le biscuit cookie les bonbons candy le chocolat chocolate la crème brûlée custard with burnt sugar topping la crème caramel flan le fromage cheese les fruits (m) fruit le gâteau cake la glace ice cream la mousse au chocolat chocolate mousse la tarte pie la vanille vanilla Cite this Article Format mla apa chicago Your Citation Team, ThoughtCo. "French Food Vocabulary: 'La Nourriture'." ThoughtCo, Dec. 6, 2021, thoughtco.com/french-food-vocabulary-la-nourriture-1371252. Team, ThoughtCo. (2021, December 6). French Food Vocabulary: 'La Nourriture'. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/french-food-vocabulary-la-nourriture-1371252 Team, ThoughtCo. "French Food Vocabulary: 'La Nourriture'." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/french-food-vocabulary-la-nourriture-1371252 (accessed May 16, 2022). copy citation