French · Food & Drink

"Spices" in French: épices

les épices

Say it: lay-zay-PEESfeminine plural · les épicesnoun/le.ze.pis/

Spices in French are les épices, feminine plural. Une épice is one spice. Un mélange d'épices is a spice blend.

Market stall

Tu vends quelles épices pour un tajine ?
Which spices do you sell for a tagine?
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How to pronounce épices

Say it

lay-zay-PEES

/le.ze.pis/

Épices: ay-PEES. Accent on é; soft final s. With the article, les épices often links as lay-zay-PEES.

"Spices" in French: quick reference

FrenchEnglish
les épicesspices

Default plural.

une épicea spice

Singular.

un mélange d'épicesa spice blend

Curry mix, ras el hanout.

épicé / épicéespicy

Adjective from the same family.

How to use épices in real life

  1. 1Market stall

    Tu vends quelles épices pour un tajine ?

    Which spices do you sell for a tagine?

    Quelles épices.

  2. 2Home kitchen

    Range les épices près de l'huile.

    Put the spices near the oil.

    Les épices as object.

  3. 3Recipe tip

    Sans les épices, le plat reste fade.

    Without the spices, the dish stays bland.

    Contrast fade.

Mistakes English speakers make with épices

Incorrect: J'achète des spices.

Correct: J'achète des épices.

Use épices, not English spices.

Incorrect: Les épices sont chers.

Correct: Les épices sont chères.

Épice is feminine; plural adjective is chères.

Good to know

French kitchens keep a small set of basics, then lean on herbes. Épices shine in North African, Indian, and Caribbean cooking at home. At the market, vendors scoop by weight; ask for un petit sachet.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Cooking dinner together

  1. ChatPal

    Il nous manque des épices pour le curry.

    We're missing spices for the curry.

  2. You

    J'ai du cumin et d'autres épices dans le tiroir.

    I have cumin and other spices in the drawer.

  3. ChatPal

    Parfait. Passe-moi les épices rouges.

    Perfect. Pass me the red spices.

  4. You

    Tiens paprika et piment.

    Here—paprika and chili.

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"Spices" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Spices" in French

How do you say spices in French?

Les épices.

What is one spice?

Une épice.

How do you say spicy?

Épicé / épicée (adjective).

How do you pronounce épices?

ay-PEES; les épices is lay-zay-PEES.

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