palourdes
The English phrase for clams in French is palourdes.
palourdes refers to edible saltwater mollusks that have two shells.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In southern France, particularly along the Mediterranean coast and in Provence, the term tellines is used as an alternative for clams.
Did you know?
- In French slang, the word palourde can be used as a vulgar term to refer to a woman's vulva.
- In a French restaurant, you might see palourdes listed under the heading Fruits de mer, which literally translates to 'sea fruits'.
- The French word palourde is related to the Latin palus, meaning 'marsh', reflecting the muddy environments where these mollusks are found.
Examples in context
- Les palourdes, les moules et les huîtres ont des coquilles.Clams, mussels and oysters have shells.This sentence is useful for listing different types of shellfish that have shells, using the form palourdes.Tatoeba #9701053 by lbdx, translation #2852028 by Hybrid
- Les loutres de mer adorent manger des palourdes tout en nageant sur le dos.Sea otters love to eat clams while swimming on their backs.This sentence illustrates the diet of sea otters, using the form palourdes.Tatoeba #9701065 by lbdx, translation #1036663 by hanadokei
- Je voudrais une assiette de palourdes, s'il vous plaît.I would like a plate of clams, please.
- J'adore les tellines grillées avec un filet de citron.I love grilled clams with a squeeze of lemon.
- J'ai acheté des palourdes fraîches au marché.I bought fresh clams at the market.
Example conversation
Chloé and Nathan are looking at a menu at a seafood restaurant.
- ChloéEst-ce que tu veux goûter les palourdes ?Do you want to taste the clams?
- NathanOui, elles ont l'air délicieuses.Yes, they look delicious.
- ChloéOn en commande une portion pour nous deux ?Shall we order one portion for the two of us?
- NathanC'est une excellente idée, Chloé.That is a great idea, Chloé.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
