French · Food & Drink

"Oil" in French: huile

l'huile

Say it: weelfeminine · l'huilenoun/ɥil/

Oil in French is l'huile. Say de l'huile and huile d'olive. In cooking: un filet d'huile. Motor oil is often de l'huile moteur—specify if needed.

Frying pan

Mets un peu d'huile dans la poêle.
Put a little oil in the pan.
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How to pronounce huile

Say it

weel

/ɥil/

Weel. Silent h; ü-like vowel starting with a soft w glide for some speakers.

"Oil" in French: quick reference

FrenchEnglish
l'huilethe oil

Default.

huile d'oliveolive oil

Cooking.

un filet d'huilea drizzle of oil

Recipes.

huile de tournesolsunflower oil

Neutral oil.

How to use huile in real life

  1. 1Frying pan

    Mets un peu d'huile dans la poêle.

    Put a little oil in the pan.

    Cooking.

  2. 2Salad

    L'huile d'olive va bien avec la tomate.

    Olive oil goes well with tomato.

    Dressing.

  3. 3Empty bottle

    Il n'y a plus d'huile dans le placard.

    There's no oil left in the cupboard.

    Stock.

Mistakes English speakers make with huile

Incorrect: Le huile est chaude.

Correct: L'huile est chaude.

Elision: l'huile; feminine agreement.

Incorrect: De l'oil sur la salade.

Correct: De l'huile sur la salade.

Use huile.

Good to know

French kitchens default to huile d'olive or tournesol. Huile can mean petroleum too—context or moteur clarifies. Never pour water on a oil fire: never mind—just don't.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Making a quick vinaigrette

  1. ChatPal

    Tu as de l'huile ?

    Do you have oil?

  2. You

    Oui, de l'huile d'olive ici.

    Yes, olive oil here.

  3. ChatPal

    Trois cuillères d'huile et une de vinaigre.

    Three spoons of oil and one of vinegar.

  4. You

    Je mélange.

    I'll mix.

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"Oil" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Oil" in French

How do you say oil?

L'huile.

How do I say olive oil?

Huile d'olive.

How do I say a drizzle of oil?

Un filet d'huile.

How do you pronounce huile?

Weel.

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