Food is one of the highest-ROI vocabulary topics for travelers and learners. These words will get you through restaurants, boulangeries, markets, and everyday meals.
Meals and basics
| French | English |
|---|
| le petit-déjeuner | breakfast |
| le déjeuner | lunch |
| le dîner | dinner |
| le goûter | afternoon snack |
| le repas | meal |
| le pain | bread |
| le beurre | butter |
| le fromage | cheese |
| l'œuf | egg |
| le sel | salt |
| le poivre | pepper |
| le sucre | sugar |
Fruits
| French | English |
|---|
| la pomme | apple |
| la banane | banana |
| l'orange | orange |
| la fraise | strawberry |
| le raisin | grape |
| la poire | pear |
| la pêche | peach |
| le citron | lemon |
| la framboise | raspberry |
Vegetables
| French | English |
|---|
| la pomme de terre | potato |
| la tomate | tomato |
| la carotte | carrot |
| l'oignon | onion |
| l'ail | garlic |
| la salade | lettuce / salad |
| le champignon | mushroom |
| le poivron | bell pepper |
| les haricots verts | green beans |
Meat, fish, and protein
| French | English |
|---|
| la viande | meat |
| le poulet | chicken |
| le bœuf | beef |
| le porc | pork |
| l'agneau | lamb |
| le jambon | ham |
| le poisson | fish |
| le saumon | salmon |
| les crevettes | shrimp |
Drinks
| French | English | Note |
|---|
| l'eau | water | |
| le vin | wine | |
| la bière | beer | |
| le café | coffee | |
| le thé | tea | |
| le lait | milk | |
| le jus d'orange | orange juice | |
| une carafe d'eau | a pitcher of tap water | Free at restaurants |
At a restaurant
| French | English | Note |
|---|
| l'entrée | starter / appetizer | |
| le plat principal | main course | |
| le dessert | dessert | |
| la carte | the menu | |
| le menu | the prix-fixe menu | Yes, le menu means the SET menu, not the list of options |
| l'addition | the bill | |
| le pourboire | tip | |
Tips to memorize this list faster
- Bread, cheese, and wine each have hundreds of varieties. Don't memorize them — learn them as you eat them.
- Remember: 'le menu' is the fixed-price meal; 'la carte' is the full list of dishes.
- Order tap water with 'une carafe d'eau, s'il vous plaît' — it's free and the standard French move.