Food Words in French

By Lachlan McRitchie

Updated July 5, 2026

The French word for food is la nourriture, and the essentials include le pain (bread), l'eau (water), le fromage (cheese), and la viande (meat). Add the verbs manger (to eat) and boire (to drink) and you can handle most of a menu.

FrenchEnglish
le painbread
l'eauwaterfeminine
le fromagecheese
la viandemeat
le poissonfish
l'œufeggmasculine
le fruitfruit
le légumevegetable
mangerto eat
boireto drink
délicieuxdelicious

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Frequently asked questions

How do you say food in French?
Food is la nourriture, or la cuisine when you mean a style of cooking. To eat is manger and a meal is un repas.

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