French Food Vocabulary: Cooking and Eating in French-Speaking Canada
Why Food Vocabulary Matters
Food is one of the first topics you encounter in daily life in Canada — at the grocery store, in the workplace cafeteria, at restaurants, and in social settings. Knowing the right vocabulary makes shopping, ordering, and connecting with Canadians through food much easier. Plus, Quebec has a rich and distinct food culture you should know about.
Meals (Les Repas)
| French | English | Quebec Note |
|---|---|---|
| le petit-déjeuner / le déjeuner (Quebec) | breakfast | In Quebec: déjeuner = breakfast |
| le déjeuner / le dîner (Quebec) | lunch | In Quebec: dîner = lunch |
| le dîner / le souper (Quebec) | dinner | In Quebec: souper = dinner |
| le goûter / la collation (Quebec) | snack | In Quebec: collation is most common |
Important: Quebec meal names differ from France. In Quebec, déjeuner means breakfast, dîner means lunch, and souper means dinner. In France, déjeuner is lunch and dîner is dinner. This causes confusion — use the Quebec terms when living in Canada.
At the Grocery Store (À l'Épicerie)
Fruits and Vegetables
- une pomme (apple), une poire (pear), une orange, une banane, des raisins (grapes)
- une fraise (strawberry), une framboise (raspberry), un bleuet (blueberry — Quebec)
- une pomme de terre (potato), des carottes, du brocoli, des épinards (spinach), un oignon
- une courgette (zucchini), un poivron (bell pepper), une aubergine (eggplant)
Proteins
- du poulet (chicken), du bœuf (beef), du porc (pork), de l'agneau (lamb)
- du poisson (fish), des crevettes (shrimp), du saumon, de la morue (cod)
- des œufs (eggs), du fromage (cheese), du yaourt (yogurt)
- des lentilles (lentils), des pois chiches (chickpeas), du tofu
Bread and Grains
- du pain (bread), une baguette, du pain de blé entier (whole wheat bread)
- du riz (rice), des pâtes (pasta), de la farine (flour), des flocons d'avoine (oats)
Cooking Verbs (Les Verbes de Cuisine)
| Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| faire cuire / cuire | to cook | Fais cuire le riz 15 minutes. |
| faire bouillir | to boil | Fais bouillir l'eau d'abord. |
| faire frire / frire | to fry | Je fais frire les pommes de terre. |
| faire griller | to grill / to toast | Grillez le pain. |
| faire mijoter | to simmer | Laissez mijoter à feu doux. |
| couper / émincer / hacher | to cut / slice / chop | Émincez l'oignon. |
| mélanger / remuer | to mix / stir | Mélangez bien les ingrédients. |
| ajouter | to add | Ajoutez du sel et du poivre. |
| préchauffer | to preheat | Préchauffez le four à 200°C. |
At the Restaurant
- Une table pour deux, s'il vous plaît. → A table for two, please.
- Vous avez une réservation ? → Do you have a reservation?
- Qu'est-ce que vous recommandez ? → What do you recommend?
- Je suis allergique à... → I'm allergic to...
- L'addition, s'il vous plaît. → The bill, please.
- C'est délicieux ! → It's delicious!
- Est-ce que le service est inclus ? → Is service/tip included?
Note on tipping in Quebec: Unlike France, tipping in Quebec is standard — typically 15-20% is expected in restaurants. The word for tip is un pourboire.
Quebec-Specific Food Culture
Quebec has iconic dishes you should know about:
- La poutine — fries topped with cheese curds (fromage en grains) and gravy (sauce brune). Quebec's national comfort food.
- Le sirop d'érable — maple syrup. Quebec produces 70% of the world's maple syrup. It appears in everything from breakfast to marinades.
- La tire d'érable — maple taffy poured on snow. A spring tradition at cabanes à sucre (sugar shacks).
- Le smoked meat — Montreal's famous cured beef, similar to pastrami. A must-try at Schwartz's in Montreal.
- La tourtière — a meat pie traditionally eaten at Christmas and New Year's.
- Les fèves au lard — Quebec-style baked beans with maple syrup and salt pork.
- Le fromage en grains — fresh cheese curds that squeak when bitten. Fundamental to authentic poutine.
Food-Related Expressions
- Bon appétit ! → Enjoy your meal! (said before eating)
- C'est à point. → It's just right / cooked to perfection.
- J'ai faim / soif. → I'm hungry / thirsty.
- Je suis rassasié(e). → I'm full / satisfied.
- C'est trop cuit / pas assez cuit. → It's overcooked / undercooked.
- On mange sur le pouce. → We're eating on the go.
- Veux-tu un deuxième service ? → Would you like seconds? (Quebec)
Food is one of the best ways to connect with French Canadians. Learning to discuss meals, compliment cooking, and talk about local dishes shows cultural engagement that goes beyond language — it signals that you are genuinely interested in building a life in the community.
Want to build exam-ready vocabulary around this topic? Check out our TCF vocabulary lists.