Vegetables in French 80 Easy Words and Market Phrases

If you can name vegetables in French, you unlock a weirdly useful chunk of real-life language. Markets, grocery stores, recipes, dinner invitations, tiny conversations with cashiers, and that moment when someone asks if you want more carrots all suddenly get much easier.

French vegetable vocabulary is also pleasantly practical. A tomato is still a tomato, a potato still solves many emotional problems, and a leek still looks like a giant spring onion pretending to have a proper job.

In this guide, you’ll learn 80+ common vegetables in French, plus 15 market phrases you can actually use. If you want to keep building everyday food vocabulary, you can also explore more lessons in French learning guides.

Table of Contents

How To Say Vegetable In French

French	Pronunciation	Meaning	Example Sentence	Translation	Learner Note
un légume	uhn lay-goom	a vegetable	Je mange souvent des légumes au dîner.	I often eat vegetables for dinner.	Masculine noun. Singular: un légume.
les légumes	lay lay-goom	vegetables	Les légumes frais sont au marché.	The fresh vegetables are at the market.	The final s is silent. Les sounds like “lay.”
des légumes	day lay-goom	some vegetables	Je voudrais des légumes pour la soupe.	I’d like some vegetables for the soup.	Use des for an indefinite plural.

Easy trap: in English, “vegetable” is often a category word. In French, légume works the same way, but in actual conversation people usually name the specific vegetable they want.

Useful shortcut: if you know the exact vegetable, say it. It sounds more natural than vaguely demanding “vegetables” like a confused medieval shopper.

Common Vegetables In French

Let’s start with the vegetables you’re most likely to see in shops, recipes, and everyday conversation.

French	Pronunciation	Meaning	Example Sentence	Translation	Learner Note
la carotte	lah ka-rot	carrot	J’ajoute une carotte dans la soupe.	I add a carrot to the soup.	Feminine: une carotte.
la pomme de terre	lah pom duh tair	potato	Les pommes de terre sont prêtes.	The potatoes are ready.	Literally “apple of the earth.” Very French, very normal.
la tomate	lah to-mat	tomato	Je coupe les tomates pour la salade.	I cut the tomatoes for the salad.	Often treated as a vegetable in cooking.
l’oignon	lon-yon	onion	L’oignon donne beaucoup de goût.	The onion gives a lot of flavor.	Masculine. The gn sounds like “ny.”
l’ail	eye	garlic	Je cuisine le poulet avec de l’ail.	I cook the chicken with garlic.	Masculine noun. Usually used without plural in basic contexts.
la laitue	lah lay-tü	lettuce	Il y a de la laitue dans le sandwich.	There is lettuce in the sandwich.	Common general word for lettuce.
le chou	luh shoo	cabbage	Le chou est bon en soupe.	Cabbage is good in soup.	Masculine noun.
le concombre	luh kon-kombr	cucumber	Je prends un concombre pour la salade.	I’m taking a cucumber for the salad.	Final e is not strongly pronounced.
le poivron	luh pwah-vron	bell pepper	Le poivron rouge est très sucré.	The red bell pepper is very sweet.	Not the same as black pepper.
l’aubergine	loh-ber-zheen	eggplant	J’aime l’aubergine grillée.	I like grilled eggplant.	Feminine. France French uses aubergine, not “eggplant.”
la courgette	lah koor-zhet	zucchini	La courgette cuit rapidement.	Zucchini cooks quickly.	In France, courgette is the standard word.
le haricot vert	luh a-ree-ko vair	green bean	Je sers des haricots verts avec le poisson.	I serve green beans with the fish.	Usually plural in real life: des haricots verts.
les épinards	lay zay-pee-nar	spinach	Les épinards sont riches en fer.	Spinach is rich in iron.	Usually used in the plural.
le brocoli	luh bro-ko-lee	broccoli	Le brocoli est encore croquant.	The broccoli is still crunchy.	Masculine noun.
le chou-fleur	luh shoo-flur	cauliflower	Le chou-fleur gratiné est délicieux.	Cauliflower au gratin is delicious.	Literally “flower cabbage.” Reasonable enough.
le céleri	luh say-luh-ree	celery	Je mets du céleri dans le bouillon.	I put celery in the broth.	Masculine noun.
le radis	luh ra-dee	radish	Les radis sont frais ce matin.	The radishes are fresh this morning.	Singular and plural sound very similar.
le navet	luh na-vay	turnip	Le navet a un goût assez doux.	Turnip has a fairly mild taste.	Masculine noun.
le poireau	luh pwa-ro	leek	Je fais une soupe aux poireaux.	I’m making leek soup.	Plural: poireaux.
les petits pois	lay puh-tee pwah	peas	Les petits pois vont bien avec le riz.	Peas go well with rice.	Usually plural.
le maïs	luh mah-ees	corn	Le maïs est dans la salade.	The corn is in the salad.	The two dots show you pronounce both vowels.

More Everyday Vegetable Words

Here are more vegetables that come up in cooking, shopping, and menus.

French	Pronunciation	Meaning	Example Sentence	Translation	Learner Note
l’artichaut	lar-tee-sho	artichoke	L’artichaut se mange avec une vinaigrette.	Artichoke is eaten with vinaigrette.	Masculine noun.
l’asperge	las-perzh	asparagus	Les asperges sont de saison au printemps.	Asparagus is in season in spring.	Usually plural in food contexts.
la betterave	lah bet-rav	beetroot / beet	La betterave a une couleur intense.	Beetroot has a strong color.	Feminine noun.
le champignon	luh sham-pee-nyon	mushroom	J’achète des champignons pour l’omelette.	I’m buying mushrooms for the omelet.	Technically not a vegetable, but learners absolutely need it.
la courge	lah koorzh	squash	La courge est parfaite en automne.	Squash is perfect in autumn.	General word for squash.
le potiron	luh po-tee-ron	pumpkin	Le potiron est idéal pour la soupe.	Pumpkin is ideal for soup.	Common in France for cooking pumpkin.
la citrouille	lah see-troo-yuh	pumpkin	On voit des citrouilles en octobre.	You see pumpkins in October.	Often the round Halloween-style pumpkin.
le fenouil	luh fuh-nooy	fennel	Le fenouil a un léger goût d’anis.	Fennel has a slight anise flavor.	Final l is usually heard lightly.
l’endive	lon-deev	endive	L’endive est un peu amère.	Endive is a bit bitter.	Feminine noun.
la chicorée	lah shee-ko-ray	chicory	La chicorée est populaire dans certaines salades.	Chicory is popular in some salads.	Less common for beginners, but useful in food contexts.
le cresson	luh kres-son	watercress	Le cresson apporte un goût poivré.	Watercress adds a peppery taste.	Masculine noun.
la blette	lah blet	chard	La blette se cuisine comme les épinards.	Chard is cooked like spinach.	Regional recipes use this a lot.
le panais	luh pa-nay	parsnip	Le panais devient sucré à la cuisson.	Parsnip becomes sweet when cooked.	Masculine noun.
le rutabaga	luh roo-ta-ba-ga	rutabaga / swede	Le rutabaga est courant dans les plats d’hiver.	Rutabaga is common in winter dishes.	Masculine noun.
le topinambour	luh to-pee-nam-boor	Jerusalem artichoke	Le topinambour a un goût délicat.	Jerusalem artichoke has a delicate taste.	Looks scary, tastes fine, word is excellent.
le salsifis	luh sal-see-fee	salsify	Le salsifis est moins courant aujourd’hui.	Salsify is less common today.	A nice bonus word for menus and older recipes.
le gombo	luh gom-bo	okra	Le gombo est utilisé dans plusieurs cuisines africaines.	Okra is used in several African cuisines.	Useful in international French.
le manioc	luh ma-nee-ok	cassava	Le manioc est très consommé dans de nombreux pays.	Cassava is widely eaten in many countries.	Important in global French vocabulary.
l’igname	lee-nyam	yam	L’igname est nourrissante.	Yams are filling.	Feminine noun.
la patate douce	lah pa-tat doos	sweet potato	La patate douce rôtie est excellente.	Roasted sweet potato is excellent.	Feminine phrase.

Leafy Greens And Salad Vegetables

If you’re ordering food, reading recipes, or trying to sound healthy for at least nine seconds, these matter.

French	Pronunciation	Meaning	Example Sentence	Translation	Learner Note
la salade	lah sa-lad	lettuce / salad	Je prends de la salade verte.	I’ll take some green lettuce.	Can mean the dish or the leafy ingredient.
la roquette	lah ro-ket	arugula / rocket	La roquette a un goût assez fort.	Arugula has quite a strong taste.	Very common on menus.
la mâche	lah mash	lamb’s lettuce	La mâche est douce et tendre.	Lamb’s lettuce is mild and tender.	Very common in France.
le persil	luh pair-seel	parsley	Je mets un peu de persil sur les pommes de terre.	I put a little parsley on the potatoes.	Technically an herb, but often bought with vegetables.
la coriandre	lah ko-ree-andr	coriander / cilantro	La coriandre fraîche parfume le plat.	Fresh cilantro flavors the dish.	France French uses coriandre.
le basilic	luh ba-zee-leek	basil	Le basilic va bien avec la tomate.	Basil goes well with tomato.	Excellent culinary pair.
la menthe	lah mont	mint	La menthe fraîche est dans la salade.	Fresh mint is in the salad.	Again, herb not vegetable, but very market-useful.
le chou kale	luh shoo kayl	kale	Le chou kale est à la mode depuis quelques années.	Kale has been trendy for a few years.	Borrowed term, common in food writing.
le chou rouge	luh shoo roozh	red cabbage	Le chou rouge accompagne bien la viande.	Red cabbage goes well with meat.	Adjective agrees in gender only if needed; here masculine.
le chou vert	luh shoo vair	green cabbage	Le chou vert est moins sucré.	Green cabbage is less sweet.	Simple color adjective.

Beans Peas And Similar Vegetables

These words are useful both in grocery shopping and on menus, where French loves being very specific.

French	Pronunciation	Meaning	Example Sentence	Translation	Learner Note
le haricot	luh a-ree-ko	bean	Le haricot est riche en protéines.	Beans are rich in protein.	General word.
le haricot vert	luh a-ree-ko vair	green bean	Les haricots verts sont bien cuits.	The green beans are well cooked.	Super common.
le haricot blanc	luh a-ree-ko blon	white bean	Le haricot blanc entre dans plusieurs plats traditionnels.	White beans are used in several traditional dishes.	Useful in recipes.
le haricot rouge	luh a-ree-ko roozh	kidney bean / red bean	Je prépare un plat avec des haricots rouges.	I’m making a dish with red beans.	Usually plural in context.
la fève	lah fev	broad bean / fava bean	Les fèves sont tendres au printemps.	Broad beans are tender in spring.	Feminine noun.
le pois	luh pwah	pea	Le pois est petit mais utile.	A pea is small but useful.	Usually heard in set phrases like petits pois.
le pois chiche	luh pwah sheesh	chickpea	Le pois chiche est parfait pour le houmous.	Chickpeas are perfect for hummus.	Usually plural in real use: des pois chiches.
la lentille	lah lon-tee-yuh	lentil	Les lentilles cuisent assez vite.	Lentils cook fairly quickly.	Not technically a vegetable, but absolutely worth knowing.
le soja	luh so-zha	soy	Le soja apparaît dans beaucoup de produits.	Soy appears in many products.	Common in ingredient lists.
les pousses de soja	lay poos duh so-zha	bean sprouts	Les pousses de soja sont croquantes.	Bean sprouts are crunchy.	Plural phrase.

Root Vegetables And Bulbs

French	Pronunciation	Meaning	Example Sentence	Translation	Learner Note
la patate	lah pa-tat	potato	On mange des patates ce soir.	We’re eating potatoes tonight.	More casual than pomme de terre.
l’échalote	lay-sha-lot	shallot	Je préfère l’échalote à l’oignon dans cette sauce.	I prefer shallot to onion in this sauce.	Feminine noun. Nice kitchen word.
le gingembre	luh zhan-jombr	ginger	Le gingembre ajoute du piquant.	Ginger adds some zing.	More a root/spice, still very useful.
le curcuma	luh koor-ku-ma	turmeric	Le curcuma colore le riz.	Turmeric colors the rice.	Good food word.
le radis noir	luh ra-dee nwar	black radish	Le radis noir a un goût plus fort.	Black radish has a stronger taste.	Color adjective after the noun.
le céleri-rave	luh say-luh-ree rav	celeriac	Le céleri-rave est excellent en purée.	Celeriac is excellent as a mash.	Common in French cooking.
le chou-rave	luh shoo rav	kohlrabi	Le chou-rave peut se manger cru.	Kohlrabi can be eaten raw.	Less common but useful.
le piment	luh pee-mon	chili pepper	Ce piment est très fort.	This chili pepper is very hot.	Not the same as poivron, which is a sweet pepper.
le piment doux	luh pee-mon doo	sweet pepper	Le piment doux est moins fort.	Sweet pepper is milder.	Handy contrast word.
la ciboule	lah see-bool	spring onion / scallion	La ciboule relève la salade.	Spring onion brightens the salad.	Regional and culinary word.

Extra Vegetable Words To Push You Past 80

Here are a few more you may spot in markets, recipes, or ingredient lists.

French	Pronunciation	Meaning	Example Sentence	Translation	Learner Note
le chou de Bruxelles	luh shoo duh brü-sel	Brussels sprout	Les choux de Bruxelles ne plaisent pas à tout le monde.	Brussels sprouts are not everyone’s favorite.	Usually plural.
le cornichon	luh kor-nee-shon	gherkin	Je prends quelques cornichons avec le pâté.	I’m having a few gherkins with pâté.	Also used jokingly for “idiot,” so context matters.
le cœur de palmier	luh kur duh pal-mee-yay	heart of palm	Le cœur de palmier est fréquent dans certaines salades.	Heart of palm is common in some salads.	More international-food useful.
la germination	lah zher-mee-na-syon	sprouting	La germination change la texture des graines.	Sprouting changes the texture of seeds.	Good advanced food word.
les germes	lay zherm	sprouts	Les germes se mangent souvent crus.	Sprouts are often eaten raw.	Plural common.
le mélange de légumes	luh may-lonzh duh lay-goom	mixed vegetables	Ce mélange de légumes est déjà prêt.	This mixed vegetable blend is already ready.	Useful on packaging.
les légumes racines	lay lay-goom ra-seen	root vegetables	Les légumes racines sont populaires en hiver.	Root vegetables are popular in winter.	Plural phrase.
les légumes verts	lay lay-goom vair	green vegetables	Il faut manger plus de légumes verts.	You should eat more green vegetables.	Very useful everyday phrase.
les légumes de saison	lay lay-goom duh say-zon	seasonal vegetables	J’achète surtout des légumes de saison.	I mainly buy seasonal vegetables.	Very natural market phrase.
les légumes bio	lay lay-goom bee-o	organic vegetables	Les légumes bio coûtent souvent plus cher.	Organic vegetables often cost more.	Bio is extremely common in France.

15 Market Phrases In French

Now for the good stuff: phrases you can actually use at a market, grocery stall, or small produce shop.

French	Pronunciation	Meaning	Example Sentence	Translation	Learner Note
Je voudrais un kilo de tomates.	zhuh voo-dray uh(n) kee-lo duh to-mat	I’d like a kilo of tomatoes.	Je voudrais un kilo de tomates, s’il vous plaît.	I’d like a kilo of tomatoes, please.	Very polite and useful.
Vous avez des carottes ?	voo za-vay day ka-rot	Do you have carrots?	Bonjour, vous avez des carottes aujourd’hui ?	Hello, do you have carrots today?	Notice the liaison: vous avez sounds like voo za-vay.
Combien coûtent les courgettes ?	kom-byan koot lay koor-zhet	How much do the zucchini cost?	Combien coûtent les courgettes au kilo ?	How much are the zucchini per kilo?	Combien is your shopping best friend.
C’est frais ?	say fray	Is it fresh?	Ce chou-fleur est beau. C’est frais ?	This cauliflower looks nice. Is it fresh?	Short and natural.
Ils sont de saison ?	eel son duh say-zon	Are they in season?	Les asperges sont de saison en ce moment ?	Are asparagus in season at the moment?	Great phrase for markets.
Je vais prendre ça.	zhuh vay prondr sa	I’ll take that.	Les poireaux ont l’air bons. Je vais prendre ça.	The leeks look good. I’ll take that.	Casual, natural, useful everywhere.
Je prends deux bottes de radis.	zhuh pron duh bot duh ra-dee	I’m taking two bunches of radishes.	Je prends deux bottes de radis et une laitue.	I’m taking two bunches of radishes and one lettuce.	Une botte = a bunch.
Un demi-kilo, s’il vous plaît.	uh(n) duh-mee kee-lo seel voo play	Half a kilo, please.	Un demi-kilo de haricots verts, s’il vous plaît.	Half a kilo of green beans, please.	Very common quantity phrase.
Je peux choisir ?	zhuh puh shwa-zeer	Can I choose?	Je peux choisir les tomates moi-même ?	Can I choose the tomatoes myself?	Polite and practical.
Vous acceptez la carte ?	voo zak-sep-tay lah kart	Do you take cards?	Vous acceptez la carte ou seulement les espèces ?	Do you take cards or only cash?	Very useful in small markets.
Ça fait combien ?	sa fay kom-byan	How much is that altogether?	Avec les pommes de terre, ça fait combien ?	With the potatoes, how much is it altogether?	Natural checkout phrase.
Je n’ai pas de monnaie.	zhuh nay pah duh mo-nay	I don’t have change.	Désolé, je n’ai pas de monnaie.	Sorry, I don’t have change.	Good emergency sentence.
Vous avez quelque chose de local ?	voo za-vay kel-kuh shoz duh lo-kal	Do you have anything local?	Vous avez quelque chose de local et de saison ?	Do you have anything local and in season?	Excellent for sounding like a sensible adult.
Je cherche des légumes pour une soupe.	zhuh shersh day lay-goom poor ün soop	I’m looking for vegetables for a soup.	Je cherche des légumes pour une soupe d’hiver.	I’m looking for vegetables for a winter soup.	Je cherche = I’m looking for.
Vous me mettez un kilo de pommes de terre ?	voo muh met-tay uh(n) kee-lo duh pom duh tair	Could you give me a kilo of potatoes?	Vous me mettez un kilo de pommes de terre, s’il vous plaît ?	Could you give me a kilo of potatoes, please?	Very natural with market sellers.

Useful Notes For Articles Gender And Pronunciation

Masculine examples: le chou, le poireau, le concombre, le brocoli.
Feminine examples: la carotte, la courgette, la tomate, la betterave.
Use l’ before a vowel sound: l’oignon, l’ail, l’aubergine.
Plural usually adds silent s: les carottes, les tomates, les poireaux.
After quantity words, French often uses de: un kilo de tomates, beaucoup de légumes.
Watch liaison in phrases like vous avez and les épinards. You’ll hear a soft z sound linking the words.

If you need a refresher on words like ce, cette, and ces when pointing at produce like a determined shopper, this lesson on French demonstrative adjectives and pronouns helps a lot.

Common Mistakes English Speakers Make

Mistake	Better French	Why
Je veux tomates.	Je veux des tomates.	French usually needs an article. Bare nouns sound wrong here.
un tomate	une tomate	Tomate is feminine.
des pomme de terre	des pommes de terre	The main noun must go plural.
poivron for all peppers	poivron = bell pepper, piment = chili pepper	French separates sweet peppers and hot peppers clearly.
patate in every context	pomme de terre in neutral speech	Patate is common but more casual.
Je cherche pour des légumes.	Je cherche des légumes.	Chercher does not need “for.”

Quick Practice

Try these mini drills before your brain wanders off toward potatoes again.

How do you say eggplant? → l’aubergine
How do you say zucchini? → la courgette
How do you say I’d like half a kilo of carrots? → Je voudrais un demi-kilo de carottes.
How do you say Are they fresh? → Ils sont frais ? or Elles sont fraîches ? depending on the noun
How do you say seasonal vegetables? → les légumes de saison

Want to check your overall level? Try the French placement test. If you want to see how much everyday vocabulary you already know, take the French vocabulary test.

Related French Vocabulary You’ll Probably Want Next

Drinks in French for the other half of surviving cafés and restaurants.
French colors because red peppers, green beans, and white onions do not describe themselves.

Yak Takeaway

Learn the big hitters first: la carotte, la pomme de terre, la tomate, l’oignon, la courgette, and le poivron. Then add the market phrases so you can actually use them in the wild. That’s how vocabulary stops being a list and starts becoming language. Also, if you can confidently ask for a kilo of tomatoes in French, you are already doing something oddly impressive.