French · Food & Drink
"Lunch" in French: déjeuner
le déjeuner
Lunch in French is le déjeuner. À déjeuner or pendant le déjeuner mark lunchtime. Many offices talk about la pause déjeuner.
Office
On prend le déjeuner vers treize heures.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce déjeuner
Say it
day-zhuh-NAY
/de.ʒœ.ne/
Déjeuner is day-zhuh-NAY. Soft j like s in measure. Final r soft.
"Lunch" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| le déjeuner | lunch The midday meal. | The midday meal. |
| déjeuner | to have lunch Verb use: on déjeune à midi. | Verb use: on déjeune à midi. |
| pause déjeuner | lunch break Work context. | Work context. |
| au déjeuner | at lunch When something is served. | When something is served. |
How to use déjeuner in real life
- 1Office
On prend le déjeuner vers treize heures.
We have lunch around one.
Le déjeuner.
- 2Invite
Tu restes pour le déjeuner ?
Are you staying for lunch?
Pour le déjeuner.
- 3Menu chat
Le déjeuner du jour est un poisson grillé.
Today's lunch is grilled fish.
Restaurant board.
Mistakes English speakers make with déjeuner
Incorrect: Le lunch.
Correct: Le déjeuner.
Use déjeuner for lunch.
Incorrect: Le petit-déjeuner at noon.
Correct: Le déjeuner.
Petit-déjeuner is breakfast; déjeuner is lunch.
Good to know
In France the midday meal can still be the main hot meal of the day. Déjeuner as a verb (on déjeune) is as common as the noun.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Choosing a midday spot
ChatPal
On fait le déjeuner dehors ?
Shall we do lunch outside?
You
Oui. Un déjeuner rapide près du bureau.
Yes. A quick lunch near the office.
ChatPal
Il y a une cantine correcte.
There's a decent canteen.
You
Parfait. J'ai faim.
Perfect. I'm hungry.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Lunch" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Lunch" in French
What is lunch in French?
Le déjeuner.
Lunch vs breakfast?
Petit-déjeuner = breakfast; déjeuner = lunch.
How do I say lunch break?
La pause déjeuner.
How do you pronounce déjeuner?
Day-zhuh-NAY.
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
Keep reading
- Ordering Food in French: Essential Phrases for 2026Ordering food in french - Learn how to confidently order food in French with real-life phrases and tips for 2026 travelers
- 10 Best French Speaking Practice Apps for 2026Find the best French speaking practice app to build fluency. We review 10 top tools like ChatPal for conversation, travel prep, and building confidence in 2026.
