{"id":119877,"date":"2023-07-13T22:09:32","date_gmt":"2023-07-14T02:09:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/fruits-in-french\/"},"modified":"2025-02-03T09:06:34","modified_gmt":"2025-02-03T14:06:34","slug":"fruits-in-french","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/french\/fruits-in-french\/","title":{"rendered":"Fruits in French: 38 Fruit Names"},"content":{"rendered":"

The French value good food, and that includes fruit\u2014whether it\u2019s a glass of fresh-squeezed <\/span>jus d\u2019orange<\/span><\/i> (orange juice), <\/span>des raisins<\/span><\/i> (grapes) with lunch or <\/span>une tarte aux pommes<\/span><\/i> (apple tart).\u00a0<\/span>There are even several <\/span>funny French expressions<\/span><\/a> featuring fruit.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here, we\u2019ll introduce you to 38 fruits in French, teach you about buying fruit in France and help you talk about fruit in drinks and food.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

[fluentu-toc skip=3]<\/p>\n

The Most Common Fruits in French<\/h2>\n

We\u2019ll start with some of the fruits most commonly consumed in France on their own, as part of a dish or both.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Un abricot\u00a0<\/em>(An apricot)<\/h3>\n

\"fruits-in-french\"<\/a><\/p>\n

2. Une banane\u00a0<\/em>(A banana)<\/h3>\n

\"Banana\"<\/a><\/p>\n

3.<\/b> Un cassis<\/em>\u00a0(A blackcurrant)<\/b><\/h3>\n

\"black<\/p>\n

4. Une cerise\u00a0<\/em>(A cherry)<\/h3>\n

\"fruits<\/a><\/p>\n

5. Un citron\u00a0<\/em>(A lemon)<\/h3>\n

\"fruits<\/a><\/p>\n

6. Une fraise\u00a0<\/em>(A\u00a0strawberry)<\/h3>\n

\"fruits<\/a><\/p>\n

7. Une framboise\u00a0<\/em>(A raspberry)<\/h3>\n

\"fruits<\/a><\/p>\n

8. Les fruits rouges\u00a0<\/em>(Red berries)<\/h3>\n

\"fruits-in-french\"<\/a><\/p>\n

This term, literally “red fruits,” refers to a mix of berries, such as strawberries or raspberries, and is commonly associated with baked goods.<\/p>\n

9. Une groseille \u00e0 maquereau<\/em><\/b>\u00a0(A gooseberry)<\/b><\/h3>\n

\"gooseberries\"<\/p>\n

10. Une groseille blanche<\/em><\/b>\u00a0<\/em>(A white currant)<\/b><\/h3>\n

\"white<\/p>\n

11. Une groseille rouge<\/em><\/b>\u00a0(A red currant)<\/b><\/h3>\n

\"red<\/p>\n

12. Une mandarine<\/em><\/b>\u00a0<\/em>(A mandarin)<\/b><\/h3>\n

\"mandarin\"<\/p>\n

13. Un melon<\/em><\/b>\u00a0<\/em>(A melon)<\/b><\/h3>\n

\"melon\"<\/p>\n

14.<\/b> Un m\u00fbre<\/em>\u00a0(A blackberry)<\/b><\/h3>\n

\"blackberries\"<\/p>\n

15.<\/b> Une myrtille<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>(A blueberry)<\/b><\/h3>\n

\"blueberry\"<\/p>\n

16. Une orange\u00a0<\/em>(An orange)<\/h3>\n

\"fruits<\/a><\/p>\n

17. Une p\u00eache\u00a0<\/em>(A peach)<\/h3>\n

\"fruits<\/a><\/p>\n

Be careful! Don’t confuse the name of the fruit with\u00a0le p\u00e9ch\u00e9\u00a0<\/em>(sin). Rest assured, eating a peach is not sinful.<\/p>\n

18. Une poire\u00a0<\/em>(A pear)<\/h3>\n

\"fruits<\/a><\/p>\n

19. Une pomme\u00a0<\/em>(An apple)<\/h3>\n

\"fruits<\/a><\/p>\n

20. Une prune<\/em><\/b>\u00a0<\/em>(A plum)<\/b><\/h3>\n

\"plum\"<\/p>\n

21. Un raisin\u00a0<\/em>(A grape)<\/h3>\n

\"fruits-in-french\"<\/a><\/p>\n

No, that wasn’t a typo. That’s an example of a “false friend<\/a>,” a foreign word that sounds like an English word but means something quite different.<\/p>\n

The French word to use for a raisin is\u00a0un raisin sec,<\/em> which literally means “a dry grape.”<\/p>\n

22. Une tomate\u00a0<\/em>(A tomato)<\/h3>\n

\"fruits<\/a><\/p>\n

I am aware of the controversy over the status of tomatoes.<\/span><\/p>\n

They’re included here because, whether fruit or vegetable, they’re quite popular in French cuisine, so it’s a key word to recognize.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adventurous Fruits in French<\/h2>\n

If you want to expand your culinary horizons, these more exotic or adventurous fruits will take you to the next level.<\/span><\/p>\n

23. Un ananas\u00a0<\/em>(A pineapple)<\/h3>\n

\"fruits<\/a><\/p>\n

24. Un avocat\u00a0<\/em>(An avocado)<\/h3>\n

\"fruits<\/a><\/p>\n

Beware: This is a homonym<\/a>, meaning that\u00a0un avocat,<\/em> pronounced the same way and even spelled the same way, also means “a lawyer.”<\/p>\n

Fortunately, “avocado” and “lawyer” are so different that the context should clearly indicate which definition is intended.<\/p>\n

25.<\/b> Un coing<\/em>\u00a0(A quince)<\/b><\/h3>\n

\"quince\"<\/p>\n

26.<\/b> Une figue<\/em>\u00a0(A fig)<\/b><\/h3>\n

\"fig\"<\/p>\n

27. Un fruit de la passion<\/em><\/b>\u00a0<\/em>(A passionfruit)<\/b><\/h3>\n

\"passionfruit\"<\/p>\n

28.<\/b> Un fruit du dragon<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>(A dragonfruit)<\/b><\/h3>\n

\"dragonfruit\"<\/p>\n

29.<\/b> Une goyave<\/em>\u00a0(A guava)<\/b><\/h3>\n

\"guava\"<\/p>\n

30.<\/b> Une grenade<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>(A pomegranate)<\/b><\/h3>\n

\"pomegranate\"<\/h3>\n

31.<\/b> Un kaki<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>(A persimmon)<\/b><\/h3>\n

\"persimmon\"<\/p>\n

32. Un kiwi\u00a0<\/em>(A kiwi)<\/h3>\n

\"fruits<\/a><\/p>\n

33.<\/b> Un litchi<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>(A lychee)<\/b><\/h3>\n

\"lychee\"<\/p>\n

34. Une mangue <\/em>(A mango)<\/h3>\n

\"fruits<\/a><\/p>\n

35. Une noix de coco\u00a0<\/em>(A coconut)<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

36. Un pamplemousse<\/em>\u00a0(A grapefruit)<\/b><\/h3>\n

\"fruits<\/a><\/p>\n

37.<\/b> Une papaye<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>(A papaya)<\/b><\/h3>\n

\"papaya\"<\/p>\n

38. Une past\u00e8que\u00a0<\/em>(A watermelon)<\/h3>\n

\"fruits<\/a><\/p>\n

How to Buy Fruit in France<\/h2>\n

There are two main options for buying fruit: a traditional march\u00e9 en plein air\u00a0<\/em>(open-air market) or\u00a0le supermarch\u00e9\u00a0<\/em>(the supermarket).<\/p>\n

Shopping at an Open-air Market<\/h3>\n

\"fruits<\/a><\/p>\n

An outdoor market is similar to a \u201cfarmer\u2019s market\u201d in the US. Vendors offer a dazzling variety of fresh fruits and <\/span>vegetables<\/a>. Sometimes, there are also stands boasting local cheeses, meats or <\/span>baked goods<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Remember that France uses the metric system, so fruit is usually <\/span>sold by the kilogram<\/a>. Occasionally, you might see <\/span>une livre, <\/span><\/i>which is the French term for the American unit \u201cpound.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

You can also ask for a certain number of whole fruits or, for berries, a certain number of <\/span>barquettes <\/span><\/i>(trays).<\/span><\/p>\n

Browsing in the market is more personal than in a large grocery store. You\u2019ll tell the vendor what you want, and you\u2019re welcome to ask questions about the merchandise or make special requests (size, ripeness, etc).<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are a few sample phrases you can customize to get just the right product:<\/span><\/p>\n

Je voudrais cinq pommes. <\/em>(I would like five apples.)<\/p>\n

Avez-vous des bananes m\u00fbres ? <\/em>(Do you have ripe bananas?)<\/p>\n

Est-ce que les tomates sont bio ? <\/em>(Are the tomatoes organic?)<\/p>\n

Je prendrai deux barquettes de fraises.<\/em> (I’ll take two trays of strawberries.)<\/p>\n

Je vous dois combien ?<\/em> (How much do I owe you?)<\/p>\n

Shopping at a Supermarket<\/h3>\n

\"fruits<\/a><\/p>\n

These days, larger supermarkets are quite common and certainly convenient.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, there\u2019s an important difference in France.<\/span><\/p>\n

In most large stores, you\u2019re expected to take the produce to one of the digital scales in that section.<\/span><\/p>\n

You\u2019ll choose the appropriate fruit on the screen (remembering the names of the fruits will greatly help you!) and place the bag on the scale.<\/span><\/p>\n

The machine will weigh them, tell you the price and print a label to place on the bag so the cashier can scan it at the register.<\/span><\/p>\n

If your fruit doesn\u2019t have this label, the cashier may send you back to the produce area. This happened to me on my first trip to France.<\/span><\/p>\n

But don\u2019t worry, it\u2019s a common, forgivable mistake!<\/span><\/p>\n

How to Talk About Fruit in Drinks and Cuisine<\/h2>\n

Let\u2019s look at some common ways fruit is consumed in France:<\/span><\/p>\n

Talking About Fruit Juices<\/b><\/h3>\n

Le jus de <\/span><\/i>followed by the name of a fruit is how one would describe a certain kind of juice.<\/span><\/p>\n

For instance, a <\/span>traditional French breakfast might include un croissant<\/em><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/em>(a croissant), un caf\u00e9<\/span> (a coffee) and un jus d\u2019orange<\/em><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/i>(orange juice).<\/span><\/p>\n

Many caf\u00e9s offer <\/span>a variety of fresh juices<\/a>, from jus de pomme<\/em><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/i>(apple juice) to the more exotic jus d\u2019ananas<\/em><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>(pineapple juice).<\/span><\/p>\n

Talking About Tea Infused with Fruit<\/b><\/h3>\n

You may have learned that le th\u00e9<\/em><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/em>means \u201ctea,\u201d which is true unless you\u2019re talking about herbal tea. In English, we use \u201ctea\u201d for almost any beverage in which plants are steeped in hot water.<\/span><\/p>\n

The French are more precise. <\/span>Th\u00e9 <\/span><\/i>only denotes the drink made from the <\/span>camellia sinensis <\/span><\/i>plant, more widely known as black tea or green tea. (Yes, I\u2019m a tea snob.)<\/span><\/p>\n

A beverage made by adding hot water to dried herbs or fruits is properly called either une tisane<\/em><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/i>or une infusion<\/em><\/span>.<\/span><\/em> The two terms are relatively interchangeable.<\/span><\/p>\n

To talk about the drink\u2019s contents, you\u2019d again employ <\/span>de <\/span><\/i>(of, from) and the name of a fruit. For instance, you might unwind with une tisane de citron et de gingembre<\/em><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/i>(lemon ginger tea).<\/span><\/p>\n

Talking About Jam<\/b><\/h3>\n

French bread is wonderful\u2014crisp on the outside, soft as a cloud on the inside. La confiture<\/em><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/i>(jam) could make it even grander.<\/span><\/p>\n

Once more, <\/span>de<\/span><\/i> and a type of fruit would specify the jam\u2019s contents, as in la confiture de framboise<\/em><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/em>(raspberry jam).<\/span><\/p>\n

Jam of all kinds is highly popular in France, another sign of the French love affair with fruit. They even have a <\/span>cookbook devoted to jam<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Asking for Fruit-flavored Food<\/b><\/h3>\n

Unfortunately, we cannot cover every use of fruit in French cuisine! One last handy phrase that\u2019ll help you recognize the flavor of many foods is <\/span>au <\/span><\/i>(a combination of <\/span>\u00e0<\/span><\/i> and <\/span>le)<\/span><\/i><\/a>,<\/span><\/i> \u00e0 la<\/span><\/i> and <\/span>aux<\/span><\/i> (a combination of <\/span>\u00e0<\/span><\/i> and <\/span>les).<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Each of these literally means \u201cto the,\u201d but when followed by a fruit or flavor, like chocolat<\/em><\/span>\u00a0(chocolate), the phrase expresses what the food tastes like.<\/span><\/p>\n

You\u2019ll find this highly versatile construction with all kinds of food, especially sweets.<\/span><\/p>\n

So, what will it be? La glace \u00e0 la fraise<\/em><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/i>(strawberry ice cream), la tarte aux fruits rouges<\/em><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/i>(berry tart) or un macaron \u00e0 la noix de coco<\/em><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/em>(coconut macaron)?<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n

Where to Practice Fruits in French<\/h2>\n

Remembering the names of fruits will help you in many contexts\u2014reading labels at a grocery store, ordering at a restaurant, finding the right pastry at a bakery, etc.<\/span><\/p>\n

But it takes practice. Try a few of these resources to solidify your learning.<\/span><\/p>\n