calmar
/kal.maʁ/masculine
The English word 'calamari' is expressed in French as calmar.
The term refers to the food item, specifically the squid used in cooking.
Meaning: as food (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Marseille, in the south of France, the term chipirons might be used instead of calmar.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables and is pronounced /kal.maʁ/.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use the word calamari in French restaurants, but calmar is the correct French term.
Did you know?
- The French word calmar shares its roots with the word for a 'reed' or 'pen' because the ancient Greek word for a reed, kálamos, was used to describe the hollow quill pen used for writing with ink.
- The term chipirons found on French menus in the south is actually a loanword from Spanish.
- In French, the word calmar is used as a singular noun for the food, whereas English speakers use the Italian-derived plural 'calamari'.
Examples in context
- Je vais commander des calamars ce soirI will order calamari tonight
- On devrait commander du calamar ce soirWe should order calamari tonight
- J'ai mangé des calamars délicieux au restaurant hier soir.I had delicious calamari at the restaurant last night.
- Je suis allé prendre des anneaux de calmar avec mes amis.I went to get squid rings with my friends.
Example conversation
Nathan and Léa are looking at a menu at a seafood restaurant.
- NathanQu'est-ce que tu veux manger, Léa ?What do you want to eat, Léa?
- LéaJe pense prendre le calmar.I think I'll have the calamari.
- NathanC'est une bonne idée.That's a good idea.
- LéaOn peut en partager une assiette.We can share a plate.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “calamari” translations and entries calmar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries calmar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
