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French spices vocabulary: 12 names for jars and whole spices

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Match twelve French spice names to whole spices and jars, from cinnamon sticks to cardamom pods, with cooking examples and a short quiz.

In short

Les épices means spices, and the noun is feminine. Learn la cannelle with its rolled sticks and le clou de girofle with its tiny nail shape, then use the same names when you see the ground spices in jars.

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn

Cinnamon sticks, cloves, cardamom pods and plain glass spice jars on a French kitchen table.
Whole shapes help you recognise les épices. Illustration: Atelier

Seeds, pods and berries

le cumincuminJe mets du cumin dans les carottes.
la coriandrecoriander seedCette recette contient des graines de coriandre.
la cardamomecardamomElle ajoute deux gousses de cardamome au riz.
le poivre noirblack pepperTu peux me passer le poivre noir ?

Bark, buds and roots

la cannellecinnamonJe parfume la compote avec de la cannelle.
le clou de giroflecloveUn clou de girofle est posé sur la soucoupe.
le gingembregingerJe coupe un morceau de gingembre frais.
la noix de muscadenutmegIl râpe un peu de noix de muscade.

Colourful powders and threads

le curcumaturmericLe curcuma donne une couleur jaune à la sauce.
le paprikapaprikaJ’ajoute du paprika aux pommes de terre.
le safransaffronLe safran est dans ce petit pot.
la badianestar aniseJe mets une étoile de badiane dans la casserole.

Match the jars and whole spices

la coriandrecoriander

Focus: the plant name covers both leaves and seeds

Je cherche des graines de coriandre.
I’m looking for coriander seeds.

Tu as de la coriandre fraîche ?
Do you have any fresh coriander?

le poivre / le poivronpepper / sweet pepper

Focus: the spice and the vegetable have different names

Je mets du poivre sur le poivron grillé.
I put pepper on the grilled sweet pepper.

Make a jar label more precise
FrenchMeaning
du cumin en graineswhole cumin seeds
du cumin mouluground cumin
de la cannelle en bâtonscinnamon sticks
du gingembre fraisfresh ginger
Question 1No account needed
Which spice matches the rolled bark sticks?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

la cannelle. The rolled brown sticks in the picture are de la cannelle.

Question 2No account needed
Find the spice with tiny nail-shaped dried buds.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

le clou de girofle. Un clou de girofle has a stem and a rounded bud like a small nail.

Question 3No account needed
Which card shows fine red threads in a tiny pot?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

le safran. The saffron card shows threads; the other two cards show powders.

Question 4No account needed
Ask for the seeds rather than the leaves.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

des graines de coriandre. Des graines de coriandre specifies the seeds of the coriander plant.

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