ciboulette
ciboulette is the French word for chives.
ciboulette refers to the small, grass-like herb used in cooking to provide a mild onion flavor.
Which one should you use?
While the English word 'chives' is a plural noun, the French ciboulette is used as a singular mass noun to refer to the herb in general. It remains in its singular form even when you are referring to a large quantity of the herb.
How does it change in a sentence?
ciboulette is a feminine noun. Because of this, it is typically preceded by the feminine article la or the partitive article de la.
Did you know?
- In traditional French gardening, ciboulette is often planted alongside carrots to help repel aphids that would otherwise attack the root vegetable.
- In French culture, ciboulette is a key component of fines herbes, a classic blend of parsley, chervil, tarragon and chives.
- The root of the word ciboulette traces back to the Latin 'cepa', which is the same ancestor for the English word 'onion'.
Examples in context
- Sais-tu que, dans mon jardin, poussent des poireaux, des oignons, de la ciboulette et des aulx ?Do you know that in my garden grow leeks, onions, chives, and garlic?This sentence shows ciboulette used in a list of plants found in a garden.Tatoeba #5124933 by nimfeo, translation #6834086 by Eccles17
- Ajoutez la ciboulette et assaisonnez la salade.Add the chives and season the salad.This sentence shows how to use ciboulette when adding the herb to a salad.Tatoeba #353368 by MUIRIEL, translation #10629928 by sundown
- Je prévois d'ajouter de la ciboulette fraîche à ma recette de soupe.I plan to add fresh chives to my soup recipe.
- Je coupe la ciboulette pour l'omelette.I am cutting the chives for the omelet.
Example conversation
Emma and Nathan are preparing lunch in their kitchen.
- EmmaNathan, est-ce qu'il reste de la ciboulette ?Nathan, is there any chives left?
- NathanOui, elle est dans le frigo.Yes, it is in the fridge.
- EmmaParfait, j'en ai besoin pour la sauce.Perfect, I need some for the sauce.
- NathanJe vais la chercher tout de suite.I will go get it right away.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
