How to Say "Baking Powder" in French

levure chimique

/lə.vyʁ ʃi.mik/feminine

The English phrase "baking powder" is translated into French as levure chimique.

levure chimique refers to the dry leavening agent used in baking.

Meaning: dry leavening agent used in baking (noun)

What does it mean word for word?

The term literally translates to "chemical yeast".

Do not confuse levure chimique with levure de boulanger (baker's yeast). levure de boulanger is used for bread and requires fermentation.

The noun levure is feminine, which is why the definite article la is used in the phrase la levure chimique.

Because it contains an acid and a base to react with moisture, the phrase contains the word chimique, which can sound quite intense to an English speaker used to 'baking powder'.
In French, the word levure comes from the verb lever, which means 'to rise' or 'to lift'.
In a French grocery store, you might find levure chimique sold in small sachets rather than the large tins common in the UK or US.

Ajouter la farine et la levure chimique, puis le beurre et le restant du lait. Laisser reposer 15 min.
Add the flour and baking powder, then the butter and leftover milk, let stand for 15 min.
This sentence demonstrates how to include levure chimique in a recipe instruction.
Tatoeba #3559748 by Lebensfreude, translation #3559757 by Lebensfreude
2 cuillères à café de poudre à lever
2 teaspoons of baking powder
J'ai oublié d'acheter de la levure pour le gâteau!
I forgot to buy baking powder for the cake!
Pas de problème, on peut utiliser de la poudre à pâte à la place.
No problem, we can use baking powder instead.
Il me faut de la levure chimique.
I need some baking powder.
Est-ce que tu as de la levure chimique ?
Do you have any baking powder?

Gabriel and Chloé are baking together in the kitchen.

Sources

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