poêle
/pwal/feminine
The English phrase "frying pan" is poêle in French. Wiktionary also lists poêle à frire and esquilette.
Meaning: long-handled, shallow pan used for frying food (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| poêle | /pwal/ /pwɑl/ |
feminine |
| poêle à frire | /pwa.l‿a fʁiʁ/ /pwɑ.l‿a fʁiʁ/ |
feminine |
| esquilette | /ɛs.ki.lɛt/ | feminine |
A poêle is a long-handled, shallow pan used for frying food. You may also encounter the phrase à la poêle, which is used to describe a cooking method, such as "pan-fried" (for example, poulet à la poêle).
What does it mean word for word?
The more descriptive form poêle à frire literally means "pan for frying".
Which one should you use?
poêle is the most common way to refer to a frying pan in everyday French, though it can also mean a stove or a heater depending on the context.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun poêle is feminine, so it takes the feminine article une.
How do you pronounce it?
/pwal/
Did you know?
- The French word poêle is a linguistic sibling to the Spanish dish paella, as both terms evolved from the Latin word patella, meaning 'little pan'.
Examples in context
- Tu as une poêle plus grande ?Do you have a bigger frying pan?This sentence is useful for asking about the size of a poêle.Tatoeba #10945992 by lbdx, translation #3315054 by CK
- Je cuis ces légumes à la poêle.I am cooking these vegetables in the frying pan.This sentence is useful for describing cooking vegetables in a poêle.Tatoeba #6932 by trotter, translation #12828728 by menaud
- J'ai besoin d'une plus grande poêle à frire.I need a bigger frying pan.This sentence is useful for expressing a need for a larger poêle.Tatoeba #5726823 by Aiji, translation #4679193 by mervert1
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas and Manon are in the kitchen preparing dinner.
- LucasOù est la poêle ?Where is the frying pan?
- ManonElle est dans le placard.It is in the cupboard.
- LucasEst-ce que cette poêle est propre ?Is this frying pan clean?
- ManonOui, elle est tout à fait propre.Yes, it is perfectly clean.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “frying pan” translations and entries poêle, poêle à frire, esquilette, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries esquilette, frire, poêle, à, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
