cédrat
/se.dʁa/masculine
The French word for citron is cédrat.
The word cédrat is a masculine noun used to describe the fruit.
Meaning: fruit (noun)
Which one should you use?
In a botanical context, there is a distinction between these terms: cédrat refers specifically to the large, thick-skinned citron fruit, while citron refers to the common lemon.
How does it change in a sentence?
You can specify a single lemon by using the phrase un citron.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables: /se.dʁa/.
Did you know?
- In French, calling a car a citron is a slang term for a 'lemon' or a defective vehicle, mirroring the English idiom despite the different botanical meanings of the words.
- The phrase presser le citron can be used figuratively to mean squeezing every last bit of value or effort out of a person or situation.
- In historical French pharmacy, the cédrat was often preserved in sugar as a 'confit', a process that transformed the thick rind into a medicinal delicacy.
Examples in context
- Je vous recommande de prendre un verre de limonade bien fraîche, avec du jus de citron fraîchement pressé.I recommend you have a glass of refreshing lemonade with freshly squeezed lemon juice.
- Quelle est la dose de zeste de citron nécessaire dans cette tarte aux citrons?What is the required amount of lemon zest for this lemon tart?
Example conversation
Nathan and Chloé are at a fruit market.
- NathanRegarde, Chloé, ils vendent du cédrat ici !Look, Chloé, they are selling citron here!
- ChloéC'est quoi exactement un cédrat ?What exactly is a citron?
- NathanC'est l'ancêtre du citron classique.It is the ancestor of the classic lemon.
- ChloéOn en achète un pour essayer.Let's buy one to try.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “citron” translations and entries cédrat, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
