balle
/bal/feminine
The English phrase 'chaff' is translated into French as balle. Wiktionary also lists bale.
Meaning: inedible parts of grain plant (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| balle | /bal/ | feminine |
| bale | /bal/ |
The term refers to the inedible parts of a grain plant. In culinary or agricultural contexts, you will often see the phrase balle de céréales used to specifically denote grain chaff.
Which one should you use?
While balle is the standard term for chaff, it is also the word used for a 'ball' or a 'bullet' depending on the context.
How do you pronounce it?
/bal/
Did you know?
- In many contexts, the French word balle can be used to describe a 'ball' used in sports, creating a triple meaning alongside 'chaff' and 'bullet'.
- The term balle meaning 'chaff' is thought to descend from the Gaulish word balu, which has been used in the region for thousands of years.
- The word balle also means 'bundle' or 'package' in French.
Examples in context
- J'ai passé toute la journée à séparer la paille du blé!I spent the whole day separating the chaff from the wheat!
- Le vent emporte la balle loin du grain.The wind carries the chaff far from the grain.
- Il reste de la balle au fond de la machine.There is some chaff left at the bottom of the machine.
Example conversation
A farmer and his daughter are working in a barn.
- LéaLucas, regarde toute cette balle sur le sol.Lucas, look at all this chaff on the floor.
- LucasOui, il faut la retirer avant de stocker le blé.Yes, we must remove it before storing the wheat.
- LéaEst-ce que la balle est utile pour le bétail ?Is the chaff useful for the livestock?
- LucasOui, elle peut servir de litière.Yes, it can be used as bedding.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “chaff” translations and entries balle, bale, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bale, balle, CC BY-SA 4.0.
