French · Food & Drink
"Food" in French: nourriture
la nourriture
Food in French is la nourriture, a feminine noun. In everyday talk people often say la cuisine for cooking or food style, and un repas for a meal. Nourriture sounds a bit general or formal.
Talking about travel
J'adore la nourriture indienne.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce nourriture
Say it
noo-ree-TUR
/nu.ʁi.tyʁ/
Say noo-ree-TUR. Stress the last syllable. The ou is like oo in food. The final e is silent. Soft French r at the end.
"Food" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| la nourriture | food General word for food as nourishment. | General word for food as nourishment. |
| la cuisine | cooking / cuisine / kitchen Food style or home cooking: cuisine française. | Food style or home cooking: cuisine française. |
| un repas | a meal Breakfast, lunch, or dinner as an event. | Breakfast, lunch, or dinner as an event. |
| les aliments | foodstuffs / foods More technical; labels and nutrition talk. | More technical; labels and nutrition talk. |
How to use nourriture in real life
- 1Talking about travel
J'adore la nourriture indienne.
I love Indian food.
La nourriture + adjective is a clear way to name a cuisine.
- 2At a market stall
Cette nourriture est vraiment fraîche.
This food is really fresh.
Works for food on display; plats or produits also fit.
- 3Planning a picnic
On achète de la nourriture pour le pique-nique ?
Shall we buy food for the picnic?
De la nourriture means some food in an uncountable sense.
Mistakes English speakers make with nourriture
Incorrect: Le nourriture est bonne.
Correct: La nourriture est bonne.
Nourriture is feminine, so use la and feminine adjectives like bonne.
Incorrect: Je mange la food française.
Correct: J'aime la cuisine française. / J'aime la nourriture française.
Do not borrow English food. Use nourriture or, more naturally, cuisine.
Good to know
French conversation about food often prefers concrete words: le déjeuner, un plat, la cuisine régionale. La nourriture appears more when speaking generally, about quality, waste, or food for animals (la nourriture pour chien).
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Choosing a restaurant after a museum visit
ChatPal
Tu préfères quelle nourriture ce midi ?
What kind of food do you prefer for lunch?
You
Moi, j'ai envie de nourriture simple, genre salade.
I'd like simple food, like a salad.
ChatPal
Il y a un café bio avec de bonne nourriture fraîche.
There's an organic café with good fresh food.
You
Parfait, allons-y.
Perfect, let's go.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Food" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Food" in French
Is nourriture masculine or feminine?
Feminine: la nourriture, une nourriture saine. Adjectives agree: bonne, fraîche, locale.
Do people say nourriture every day?
For everyday meals, repas and cuisine are often more natural. Nourriture fits general talk about food.
How do I say "French food"?
La cuisine française is the usual phrase. La nourriture française is understandable but less idiomatic.
What about food for pets?
Say la nourriture pour chat or pour chien, or les croquettes for kibble.
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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