coriandre
/kɔ.ʁjɑ̃dʁ/
Cilantro in French is coriandre.
The word coriandre refers to the leaves of the coriander plant.
Meaning: leaves of the coriander plant (noun)
Which one should you use?
In French, the word 'coriandre' refers to both the herb (leaves) and the spice (seeds), whereas English distinguishes between 'cilantro' and 'coriander'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Quebec, Canada, coriandre chinoise is a common alternative for cilantro.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun coriandre is feminine and is typically used with the definite article la.
How do you pronounce it?
/kɔ.ʁjɑ̃dʁ/. It has 2 syllables.
Did you know?
- The Greek origin of the word is linked to the word 'koris', which means 'bedbug', potentially referring to the spotted appearance of the seeds.
- In French culture, the taste of coriandre is a frequent point of debate, as some people describe its flavor as 'soapy' due to a genetic trait.
- In French supermarkets, you may see coriandre fraîche to specify the leaves, as coriandre alone could refer to the dried seeds found in the spice aisle.
Examples in context
- J'aimerais ajouter de la coriandre fraîche à la recette.I would like to add fresh cilantro to the recipe.
- Je vais aller acheter du persil chinois pour garnir le plat.I'm going to buy some cilantro to garnish the dish.
- J'aime beaucoup la coriandre.I really like cilantro.
- Il faut ajouter de la coriandre fraîche.You need to add fresh cilantro.
- Est-ce qu'il y a de la coriandre dans ce plat ?Is there cilantro in this dish?
Example conversation
Gabriel and Manon are cooking Mexican food in their kitchen.
- GabrielEst-ce que tu as de la coriandre ?Do you have any cilantro?
- ManonOui, j'ai acheté de la coriandre ce matin.Yes, I bought some cilantro this morning.
- GabrielParfait, elle est indispensable pour cette recette.Perfect, it is essential for this recipe.
- ManonJe vais la hacher tout de suite.I will chop it right now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cilantro” translations and entries coriandre, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries coriandre, CC BY-SA 4.0.
