châtaigne
/ʃa.tɛɲ/feminine
The English word chestnut is translated into French as châtaigne. Wiktionary also lists marron.
Meaning: edible nut of the Spanish chestnut or sweet chestnut tree (Castanea sativa), nut from a related shrub or tree, similar nut from an unrelated plant (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| châtaigne | /ʃa.tɛɲ/ /ʃɑ.tɛɲ/ |
feminine |
| marron | /ma.ʁɔ̃/ | masculine |
The term refers to the edible nut of the Spanish chestnut or sweet chestnut tree (Castanea sativa), a nut from a related shrub or tree or a similar nut from an unrelated plant.
Which one should you use?
While both terms refer to the nut, marron is the more frequent term used in everyday speech, particularly when discussing food. When you want to describe hair that is a chestnut color, use the adjective châtain instead of marron or châtaigne.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Limousin and Burgundy regions, the term castagnes is used to refer to chestnuts.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When used as an adjective to describe the color brown, marron is invariable and does not take an 's' in the plural form.
How do you pronounce it?
châtaigne is pronounced /ʃa.tɛɲ/ and has two syllables.
Did you know?
- The word marron comes from a West Indies creole word derived from the Spanish cimarrón, which originally referred to runaway slaves or feral livestock.
- The word châtaigne can be used as a slang term for a slap or a punch, similar to how marron is used in certain contexts.
- In some regions, you might see marrons glacés on a menu, which are chestnuts candied in sugar and are considered a luxury delicacy rather than a simple forest snack.
Examples in context
- Elles sont assises à l'ombre des marronniers.They're sitting in the shade of the chestnut trees.This sentence shows the use of marron in the context of chestnut trees.Tatoeba #12366512 by lbdx, translation #6210040 by sundown
- Je voudrais des châtaignes, s'il vous plaîtI would like some chestnuts, please
- Pouvez-vous me donner des marrons, s'il vous plaît?Can you give me some chestnuts, please?
- Les châtaignes grillées sont mes préféréesRoasted chestnuts are my favorite
- J'adore les noisettes, mais je préfère les châtaignesI love hazelnuts, but I prefer chestnuts
- Les châtaignes sont délicieusesChestnuts are delicious
- Où puis-je acheter des châtaignes?Where can I buy chestnuts?
- Je veux goûter les marrons glacésI want to taste candied chestnuts
- Les châtaignes grillées sentent si bonRoasted chestnuts smell so good
- Vous pouvez cuisiner de délicieux plats avec des châtaignesYou can cook delicious dishes with chestnuts
- Cette châtaigne est très sucrée.This chestnut is very sweet.
Example conversation
Emma and Gabriel are at a Christmas market.
- EmmaEst-ce que tu veux une châtaigne chaude ?Do you want a warm chestnut?
- GabrielOui, j'adore ça en hiver.Yes, I love that in winter.
- EmmaRegarde, cette châtaigne est énorme !Look, this chestnut is huge!
- GabrielElle a l'air délicieuse, Emma.It looks delicious, Emma.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “chestnut” translations and entries châtaigne, marron, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries châtaigne, marron, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
