noix de coco
/nwa d(ə) ko.ko/feminine
The English word coconut is translated into French as noix de coco.
noix de coco refers to the fruit of the coconut palm. To specify the tree itself, French uses the word cocotier. When you want to describe food that is coconut-flavored or contains coconut, you should use the phrase à la noix de coco, such as un yaourt à la noix de coco (a coconut yogurt).
Meaning: fruit of coco palm (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term literally translates to 'nut of coco', where noix means nut and coco refers to the coconut palm.
How does it change in a sentence?
noix de coco is a feminine noun. Because of this, you use feminine articles like une or la when referring to a single coconut.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers may mistakenly try to use coco as a standalone noun for the fruit. In French, coco is typically used for the palm tree or within specific compound terms, whereas the fruit itself is noix de coco.
Did you know?
- The name coco originally comes from a word for a 'bogeyman' or a frightening creature. This was because the three indentations on the shell of the fruit look like a spooky face.
- While noix de coco is the fruit, the word coco is used in French slang to refer to someone's head.
- In some French dialects, coco is used as a term of endearment for a child, similar to calling someone 'sweetheart'.
Examples in context
- C'est une noix de coco.This is a coconut.This sentence is useful for identifying a single coconut using noix de coco.Tatoeba #6465641 by Aiji, translation #3825685 by CK
- Ceci est de l'huile de noix de coco.This is coconut oil.This sentence is useful for describing coconut oil using noix de coco.Tatoeba #12495105 by always, translation #8409528 by Amastan
- Sami mangeait une tranche de gâteau à la noix de coco.Sami was eating a slice of coconut cake.This sentence is useful for describing coconut-flavored cake using noix de coco.Tatoeba #6570462 by GB3, translation #6570090 by OsoHombre
- 12 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
At a tropical fruit market.
- LucasLéa, regarde cette noix de coco !Léa, look at this coconut!
- LéaElle semble délicieuse, Lucas.It looks delicious, Lucas.
- LucasEst-ce que tu en veux une ?Do you want one?
- LéaOui, prenons cette noix de coco.Yes, let's take this coconut.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “coconut” translations and entries noix de coco, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries coco, de, noix, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
