French · Food & Drink
"Bread" in French: pain
le pain
Bread in French is le pain, masculine, said peh. A baguette is the classic long loaf. Pain also appears in pain au chocolat and pain de campagne.
At the bakery
Une baguette et un pain de campagne, s'il vous plaît.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce pain
Say it
peh
/pɛ̃/
Pain sounds like peh, with a nasal vowel. Do not pronounce the n as a clear English n. The final sound sits in the nose.
"Bread" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| le pain | bread Bread in general, or a loaf. | Bread in general, or a loaf. |
| une baguette | baguette The everyday long white loaf. | The everyday long white loaf. |
| le pain de campagne | country loaf Rounder, often wholemeal-style bakery bread. | Rounder, often wholemeal-style bakery bread. |
| le pain complet | wholemeal bread Brown / wholegrain bread. | Brown / wholegrain bread. |
How to use pain in real life
- 1At the bakery
Une baguette et un pain de campagne, s'il vous plaît.
A baguette and a country loaf, please.
Naming the loaf type is how you order.
- 2Setting the table
Tu coupes le pain pendant que je mets la table ?
Will you cut the bread while I set the table?
Bread is cut or torn; French meals often include it.
- 3Talking habits
Sans pain, ce n'est pas un vrai repas pour moi.
Without bread, it isn't a real meal for me.
A common feeling in French food culture.
Mistakes English speakers make with pain
Incorrect: La pain est croustillante.
Correct: Le pain est croustillant.
Pain is masculine. Use le and masculine adjectives.
Incorrect: Je voudrais un bread.
Correct: Je voudrais du pain. / Une baguette.
Say pain or name the loaf. Du pain means some bread.
Good to know
Many French people still buy fresh bread several times a week. A meal without pain can feel incomplete, even with pasta or rice on the plate. Bakeries display dozens of shapes beyond the baguette.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Morning stop at a village bakery
ChatPal
Bonjour ! Il vous faut du pain ce matin ?
Hello! Do you need bread this morning?
You
Oui, deux baguettes et un petit pain aux céréales.
Yes, two baguettes and a small cereal roll.
ChatPal
Très bon choix. Le pain sort du four.
Very good choice. The bread just came out of the oven.
You
Parfait, j'adore le pain bien chaud.
Perfect, I love nice warm bread.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Bread" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Bread" in French
Is pain masculine or feminine?
Masculine: le pain, du pain, un bon pain.
How do you pronounce pain?
Like peh, nasal. It sounds like the French word pin (pine tree).
Is baguette the same as pain?
A baguette is a type of pain. Pain is the general word.
What is pain au chocolat?
A chocolate-filled viennoiserie. In the southwest many people say chocolatine instead.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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