Vocabulary list

French mushroom vocabulary: 12 names with picture cards

Learn twelve French mushroom names from market examples and distinctive picture cards, then match caps, stems and shapes to the right labels.

In short

The general word is un champignon. At the market, ask for a variety by name: des champignons de Paris, des girolles or des pleurotes. The cards pair twelve food names with their pictured shapes.

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn

A refined market still life of button mushrooms, ochre chanterelles and fan-shaped oyster mushrooms in shallow baskets.
Distinctive shapes help remember les champignons. Illustration: Atelier
Names you might see on a menu
French phraseEnglish meaning
une omelette aux cèpesa porcini omelette
une sauce aux morillesa morel sauce
des pâtes aux champignonspasta with mushrooms

Rounded caps

le champignon de Parisbutton mushroomJe prends une barquette de champignons de Paris.
le cèpeporcini mushroomIl prépare une omelette aux cèpes.
le bolet baibay boleteLe vendeur propose aussi des bolets bais.
le shiitakéshiitake mushroomJ’ajoute des shiitakés à la soupe.

Folds, funnels and clusters

la girollechanterelleNous achetons des girolles pour le dîner.
la chanterelle en tubeyellowfoot chanterelleIl reste des chanterelles en tube dans le panier.
la trompette de la mortblack trumpet mushroomLa sauce contient des trompettes de la mort.
le pleuroteoyster mushroomJe coupe les pleurotes en morceaux.

Distinctive shapes

la morillemorelLe restaurant sert une sauce aux morilles.
le pied-de-moutonhedgehog mushroomLa barquette de pieds-de-mouton est à gauche.
la coulemelleparasol mushroomCette coulemelle a un grand chapeau.
la truffe noireblack truffleLe chef râpe un peu de truffe noire.

Twelve varieties at the mushroom stall

Use the pictures to match the vocabulary on this page. At a stall, the name on the label helps you order: deux cents grammes de girolles, s’il vous plaît. The plural of un pied-de-mouton is des pieds-de-mouton.

Question 1No account needed
Which label matches the white mushrooms with smooth, rounded caps?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

les champignons de Paris. Les champignons de Paris are the white button mushrooms pictured here.

Question 2No account needed
Which card shows a tall mushroom with a broad, parasol-shaped cap?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

la coulemelle. The coulemelle card shows a broad cap on a tall, slender stem.

Question 3No account needed
Match the honeycomb-patterned cap to its French name.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

la morille. The morille picture has a deeply pitted, honeycomb-shaped cap.

Question 4No account needed
Which name goes with the dark, hollow trumpet shapes?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

les trompettes de la mort. The black trumpet shapes belong to les trompettes de la mort.