French · Food & Drink

"Watermelon" in French: pastèque

la pastèque

Say it: pas-TEKfeminine · la pastèquenoun/pas.tɛk/

Watermelon in French is la pastèque, feminine. Une pastèque is one watermelon. Tranche de pastèque is a slice. It's a summer market staple.

Market stall

Cette pastèque est-elle bien rouge à l'intérieur ?
Is this watermelon nice and red inside?
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How to pronounce pastèque

Say it

pas-TEK

/pas.tɛk/

Pastèque is pas-TEK. The è is open like e in bed. Final que sounds like k.

"Watermelon" in French: quick reference

FrenchEnglish
la pastèquewatermelon

The fruit.

une pastèquea watermelon

Buying whole.

une tranche de pastèquea slice of watermelon

Serving.

jus de pastèquewatermelon juice

Drinks.

How to use pastèque in real life

  1. 1Market stall

    Cette pastèque est-elle bien rouge à l'intérieur ?

    Is this watermelon nice and red inside?

    Feminine cette pastèque.

  2. 2Picnic

    J'ai coupé la pastèque en gros cubes.

    I cut the watermelon into big cubes.

    Pastèque as food prep.

  3. 3Heatwave snack

    Rien de mieux qu'une pastèque bien froide.

    Nothing better than a nice cold watermelon.

    Summer cliché for a reason.

Mistakes English speakers make with pastèque

Incorrect: Le pastèque est sucré.

Correct: La pastèque est sucrée.

Pastèque is feminine.

Incorrect: Du watermelon, s'il te plaît.

Correct: De la pastèque, s'il te plaît.

Use pastèque.

Good to know

Pastèque shows up at every beach picnic and July market. Vendors sometimes plug a small cone to show the red flesh before you buy.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Choosing fruit for a barbecue

  1. ChatPal

    On prend une pastèque ou des pêches ?

    Shall we get a watermelon or peaches?

  2. You

    Une pastèque. Il fait trop chaud pour autre chose.

    A watermelon. It's too hot for anything else.

  3. ChatPal

    Ok, je choisis la plus lourde.

    Okay, I'll pick the heaviest one.

  4. You

    Bonne technique.

    Good technique.

This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.

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"Watermelon" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Watermelon" in French

What is watermelon in French?

La pastèque (feminine).

How do I say a slice of watermelon?

Une tranche de pastèque.

Is pastèque masculine?

No, feminine: la pastèque.

How do you pronounce pastèque?

Pas-TEK.

Learn a word, then use it out loud

  1. Step 1: See it in context
  2. Step 2: Say it out loud
  3. Step 3: Get feedback
  4. Step 4: Use it in real scenarios

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