Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| barbecue | /baʁ.bə.kju/ /baʁ.bə.ky/ |
masculine |
| barbeuc | /baʁ.bœk/ | colloquial, masculine |
In French, barbecue refers to the meal or the device used for cooking. To describe the specific action of cooking food on a barbecue, the verb griller is more commonly used than other terms.
Which one should you use?
barbecue is the standard form, while barbeuc is a common colloquial shortening. You may also encounter the informal abbreviations le BBQ or le barbec.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
barbecue is the standard masculine noun. For more casual settings, you can use the colloquial shortening barbeuc or the informal abbreviations le BBQ and le barbec.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The word is a masculine noun. When describing the event of having a barbecue, French speakers use the phrase faire un barbecue (to do/make a barbecue) rather than using the verb avoir (to have).
How do you pronounce it?
/baʁ.bə.kju/
Did you know?
- In France, the act of cooking outdoors is often associated with le grilling, but the actual meat cooked is frequently merguez or chipolatas, which are staples of a French barbecue.
- Unlike in the US, where 'barbecue' can refer to a slow-cooking method or a sauce, in French barbecue almost always refers to the grill itself or the party.
- While barbecue describes the social event, French speakers often use the word plancha for a specific type of flat-top grill that is extremely popular in France.
Examples in context
- Il essaye d'allumer le barbecue.He's trying to light the barbecue.This sentence is useful for describing the attempt to light the barbecue.Tatoeba #8703913 by Julien_PDC, translation #9011852 by jaydenms
- Nous faisons un barbecue en ce moment.We're having a barbecue.This sentence is useful for describing the action of having a barbecue.Tatoeba #7498966 by Micsmithel, translation #839890 by CM
- Que dis-tu d'un barbecue dimanche prochain ?How about having a barbecue party next Sunday?This sentence is useful for suggesting a barbecue for a future date.Tatoeba #1474766 by sacredceltic, translation #1474233 by CK
- Qu'est-ce que tu fais ce week-end? Tu veux faire un BBQ dans mon jardin?What are you doing this weekend? Do you want to have a BBQ in my garden?
- 11 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nathan and Manon are talking about their plans for the weekend.
- NathanOn organise un barbecue samedi.We are organizing a barbecue on Saturday.
- ManonC'est une excellente idée, Nathan !That is an excellent idea, Nathan!
- NathanEst-ce que tu peux apporter des boissons ?Can you bring some drinks?
- ManonOui, je m'en occupe.Yes, I will take care of it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “barbecue” translations and entries barbecue, barbeuc, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
