Vocabulary list

Bol or tasse? French bowls, cups and what goes in them

Name bowls, cups and breakfast tableware in French. Compare un bol de soupe, une tasse de thé and une tasse à café, with pictures and a quiz.

In short

Un bol is a bowl; une tasse is a cup. Say un bol de soupe for a bowl of soup and une tasse de thé for a cup of tea. A bowl can hold a drink too: un bol de chocolat chaud.

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn

Six things on the breakfast table

Containers

le bolm.bowlLe bol est grand.
la tassef.cupLa tasse est petite.
le verrem.glassLe verre est propre.
le gobeletm.beaker; cupJe prends un gobelet en carton.

With a cup or bowl

la soucoupef.saucerJe pose la tasse sur la soucoupe.
l’ansef.handleL’anse de la tasse est bleue.
la cuillèref.spoonIl met une cuillère dans le bol.
le chocolat chaudm.hot chocolateElle boit un bol de chocolat chaud.

Une tasse de café or une tasse à café?

A full cup and an empty cup
FrenchEnglishDetail
une tasse de caféa cup of coffeeWhat is inside
une tasse à caféa coffee cupWhat the cup is for
une tasse à café videan empty coffee cupIts purpose stays the same
un bol de soupea bowl of soupWhat is inside

Keep the container when the contents change: un bol de céréales, un bol de soupe, un bol de café. English “cup” can also mean gobelet, as with a paper cup. The familiar handled drinking cup is une tasse.

Le petit-déjeuner est prêt
  1. Alex

    Tu veux du thé ?

    Would you like some tea?

  2. Lou

    Oui, une tasse de thé, s’il te plaît.

    Yes, a cup of tea, please.

  3. Alex

    Et pour les céréales, voici un bol et une cuillère.

    And here’s a bowl and a spoon for the cereal.

These phrases count servings in everyday conversation. A small cup and a large cup hold different amounts. In a recipe, follow the volume given in the recipe when you need an exact measure.

Question 1No account needed
Choose “a bowl of soup”.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

un bol de soupe. Bol means bowl, and de soupe names what it contains.

Question 2No account needed
Which phrase can describe an empty coffee cup?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

une tasse à café vide. À café describes the cup’s purpose, so it still works when the cup is empty.

Question 3No account needed
Complete the adjective.La tasse est ___.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

petite. Tasse is feminine singular: une petite tasse, la tasse est petite.