glucides
The French word for carbohydrates is glucides.
The term refers to organic compounds found in foods like bread and potatoes that provide the body with energy.
Which one should you use?
While glucides is standard in nutritional or medical contexts, people in everyday conversation often use sucres to refer to carbohydrates. You may also encounter the colloquial term sucres lents, which specifically refers to complex carbohydrates.
How does it change in a sentence?
When referring to the macronutrient group in general, the word is almost always used in its plural form, glucides.
Did you know?
- In common French parlance, if someone says they are avoiding le sucre 'sugar', they are often referring to all glucides including bread and pasta, not just table sugar.
- The word glucide is derived from the Greek word glykys, meaning 'sweet', which also gave English the word 'glucose'.
- While English uses the word 'carbs' as a shorthand, there is no widely used single-syllable slang abbreviation for glucides in French.
Examples in context
- Les premiers chasseurs-cueilleurs avaient des difficultés à trouver des glucides dans la nature.Early hunter-gatherers had a hard time finding carbohydrates in the wild.This sentence shows how early hunter-gatherers might have struggled to find glucides in the wild.Tatoeba #6593671 by GB3, translation #6593341 by Eccles17
- Quel que soit le régime que l'on choisit, limiter sa consommation de glucides est toujours une bonne idée.No matter which diet you choose, limiting your intake of carbohydrates is always a good idea.This sentence is useful for discussing how limiting the consumption of glucides can be a good idea regardless of the diet chosen.Tatoeba #9673964 by lbdx, translation #6599034 by Eccles17
- J'ai besoin de manger moins de glucides pour perdre du poids.I need to eat fewer carbohydrates to lose weight.
- Les hydrates de carbone sont essentiels pour maintenir un bon niveau d'énergie.Carbohydrates are essential to maintain good energy levels.
- Je vais éviter les sucres lents ce soir et opter pour une alimentation plus légère.I will avoid complex carbohydrates tonight and opt for a lighter diet.
- Les pâtes sont une source importante de glucides.Pasta is an important source of carbohydrates.
Example conversation
Gabriel and Léa are discussing their diet at lunch.
- GabrielJe mange moins de glucides en ce moment.I am eating fewer carbohydrates right now.
- LéaPourquoi as-tu choisi ce régime, Gabriel ?Why did you choose this diet, Gabriel?
- GabrielJe me sens plus énergique comme ça.I feel more energetic this way.
- LéaC'est intéressant, je vais essayer aussi.That's interesting, I will try it too.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
