40+ Vegetables in French

Food and French culture are intertwined.

There are so many different dishes the French are renowned for internationally, and les légumes (vegetables) are an essential part of French cuisine.

Knowing how to say vegetables in French is important, and even more so if there is one particular vegetable you can’t stand!

In this post, we’ll share 40+ common vegetables in French as well as famous vegetable-based dishes and popular vegetable expressions amongst the French.

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Common Vegetables in French

Knowing how to say the names of vegetables in French is an important part of not only learning to speak the language, but also understanding French cuisine and culture.

French cuisine is a vital part of French culture and there are so many famous and delicious French vegetable-based dishes!

Let’s take a look at 40 of the most common vegetables in French.

1. L’ail  — Garlic

2. Les asperges  — Asparagus

3. Les carottes — Carrots

4. Le panais — Parsnip

5. Le céleri — Celery 

6. Le poireau — Leek

7. Les champignons — Mushrooms

8. Le chou  — Cabbage

9. Le chou rouge — Red cabbage

10. Le chou frisé — Kale

11. Le concombre — Cucumber

12. L’échalote  — Shallot

13. Les haricots verts — Green beans

14. Les haricots rouges — Kidney beans

15. La laitue — Lettuce 

16. Le maïs — Corn

17. L’oignon  — Onion

18. L’oignon rouge — Red onion

19. Les petits pois  — Peas

20. Le pois chiche — Chickpea

21. La pomme de terre — Potato 

22. La patate douce — Sweet potato

23. Le poivron  — Bell pepper

24. Le piment — Chili pepper

25. La tomate  — Tomato

26. La tomate cerise — Cherry tomato

27. Le brocoli  — Broccoli

28. Le chou-fleur  — Cauliflower

29. Les épinards  — Spinach

30. Les choux de Bruxelles  — Brussel sprouts

31. L’artichaut  — Artichoke

32. La courgette  — Zucchini

33. La courge  — Squash

34. Le navet — Turnip

35. La citrouille / Le potiron — Pumpkin

36. Le basilic  — Basil

37. La betterave  — Beet

38. Le radis  — Radish

39. Le gingembre  — Ginger

40. L’aubergine  — Eggplant

Typical French Vegetables You’ll See on Menus

It’s important to know the basic vegetables listed above.

But if you’re traveling to France, you’ll do well to go a bit deeper and learn some less common vegetables as well as some common varieties:

• Cèpes (King Bolete/Penny Bun), pieds de mouton (Sheep’s Feet) and chanterelles (chanterelle). These are some common mushrooms you’ll see on the menu. Many people in France like to hunt for their own mushrooms, so it’s not surprising that they have different words for the numerous edible varieties. 
• Le chou cabus (firm, light-colored cabbage), le chou de Milan (Savoy cabbage), le chou rouge (red cabbage) and le chou chinois (Napa cabbage/Chinese cabbage)
• Le poireau (leek) doesn’t always make its way onto American menus, but it forms the basis for several French dishes. From the French-Belgian border region comes la flamiche, a puff-pastry tart that’s frequently made aux poireaux (with leeks). And you also may have heard of la vichyssoise, a famous French leek soup that’s often served cold.
• Le fenouil (fennel) enjoys modest popularity in France, with preparations like le gratin de fenouil et de pommes de terre (a fennel-and-potato casserole topped with melted gruyère cheese).

Common French Vegetable Expressions

Vegetables have made their way not only into French cuisine, but French slang, as well.

Famished? Feast on these French idioms about fruits and vegetables by the bushel! Or if you’re just peckish, nibble on a few yummy, plant-based idioms:

• Une asperge — a very tall and thin person (literally, “an asparagus”)
• Raconter des salades — to tell tales, to make up stories (literally, “to tell (tales about) salads”) 
• Avoir du blé — to have money (literally, “to have wheat”) 
• Avoir la patate — to be full of energy (literally, “to have the potato”) 
• C’est chou vert et vert chou — “same difference” or “it’s all the same to me” (literally, “it’s green cabbage and cabbage green,” used primarily in Belgian French)
• S’occuper de ses oignons — to mind one’s own business (literally, “to mind one’s own onions”; figuratively)
• La carotte et le bâton — using a combination of enticement and threats to motivate someone (literally, “the carrot and the stick”) 
• Mettre du piment — to spice (something) up (literally, “to put in some red chili pepper”)

How to Practice French Vegetable Vocabulary

Learning vegetable words in French doesn’t have to be a tedious chore. Try these activities to get in some practice:

• Watch French cooking videos. French-language cooking videos are not only entertaining but a great way to improve your French fluency—whether you’re at a beginning, intermediate or advanced level in the language. Not only will your vocabulary grow, but so will your understanding of French cuisine. 

• Watch short cooking videos with FluentU. Immersion is one of the best ways to learn new vocabulary as you can see how it’s used in context by native speakers. The language learning program has an array of authentic French videos on a range of topics, like cooking and culture.

  Each video feature interactive subtitles, and there are also quizzes and flashcards to help you practice any new vocabulary. By watching native cooking videos, you’ll be able to pick up new French vegetable words and start using them yourself. 

• Get cooking with vegetables using French recipes. Use online French recipe resources and food blogs to practice French veggie vocabulary. Cooking with French recipes will not only expand your vocabulary, but will also give you a better understanding of French cuisine.
• Go out to eat at a French restaurant. People often say that French gastronomy is one of the best in the world! If you’re looking for a fun way to test your French vegetable vocabulary, you could visit a French restaurant. Practice reading the menu and see what the French-style vegetables taste like!
• Go to a local vegetable market and try naming the vegetables in French. Try visiting a local market or vegetable stall and name the vegetables on display. This is a great way to test your vegetable knowledge and identify any gaps or missing vocabulary. Make sure you take note of any ones you can’t name in French to learn when you are back home.
• Write your shopping list in French. Sometimes a little action can go a long way. An effective way to practice French vegetable vocabulary is by writing your shopping list in French. This method will quickly help you solidify the vocabulary you’ve learned and integrate it into your everyday life and language. 

 

Now you know the 40 most common vegetables in French as well as famous vegetable-based dishes and sayings.

You’ll be able to order confidently in French restaurants and conquer the vegetable kingdom in your own kitchen.

So, learn your vegetable vocabulary in French. It’s good for you.

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)