chewing-gum
/ʃwiŋ.ɡɔm/
The English phrase bubble gum is chewing-gum in French.
chewing-gum is the standard term used to refer to bubble gum or any type of chewing gum in French. In France, the slang word Malabar is also used to refer to bubble gum in general.
How does it change in a sentence?
chewing-gum is a masculine noun. You can use the masculine article un when referring to a single piece, un chewing-gum. Although it is an English loanword, it is commonly pluralized in French by adding an 's' to the end, as in des chewing-gums.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ʃwiŋ.ɡɔm/. It has 2 syllables.
Did you know?
- If you use the word gomme alone in a French classroom, your teacher will think you are asking for an eraser, not bubble gum.
- In France, using the brand name Malabar to mean any bubble gum is a form of genericization, similar to how some English speakers use 'Kleenex' for any tissue.
- In Quebec, you are more likely to hear the term gomme à mâcher rather than the English loanword used in France.
Examples in context
- Tu ne devrais pas faire des bulles avec ton chewing-gum en classe.You shouldn't pop your bubble gum in class.This sentence is useful for practicing how to talk about using chewing-gum in a classroom setting.Tatoeba #2015952 by sacredceltic, translation #2010166 by darinmex
- Je suis allé à la supérette pour acheter du chewing-gum.I went to the convenience store to buy some bubble gum.
- Je veux acheter du chewing-gum.I want to buy some bubble gum.
- Il reste du chewing-gum dans le paquet ?Is there any bubble gum left in the pack?
Example conversation
Nathan and Léa are walking to school.
- NathanLéa, tu as du chewing-gum ?Léa, do you have any bubble gum?
- LéaOui, j'en ai un paquet ici.Yes, I have a pack here.
- NathanTu peux m'en donner un ?Can you give me one?
- LéaTiens, voilà ton chewing-gum.Here, here is your bubble gum.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry chewing-gum, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
