pattes de crabe
The English phrase "crab legs" is translated into French as pattes de crabe.
This phrase refers to the edible legs of a crab that are used for food.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of pattes (legs/paws), de (of) and crabe (crab).
Which one should you use?
In French, pattes is used for the legs of animals or crustaceans, whereas jambes is used specifically for human legs.
How does it change in a sentence?
To refer to a single leg, use the singular form une patte de crabe.
Did you know?
- The word pattes is used in French slang to refer to a person's feet or their footwear in a clumsy or informal way.
- The word crabe is not actually a Romance word from Latin, but a loanword from Norman dialects linked to Old Norse and Middle Dutch.
- Using the word jambes to describe pattes de crabe would sound anthropomorphic to a native speaker, as if the crab had human anatomy.
Examples in context
- Je voudrais des pattes de crabe, s'il vous plaît.I would like some crab legs, please.
- J'adore manger des pattes de crabe.I love eating crab legs.
- Les pattes de crabe sont sur la table.The crab legs are on the table.
- Est-ce qu'il reste des pattes de crabe ?Are there any crab legs left?
Example conversation
A dining room during a seafood dinner.
- NathanLéa, est-ce que tu veux des pattes de crabe ?Léa, do you want some crab legs?
- LéaOui, merci, elles ont l'air délicieuses.Yes, thank you, they look delicious.
- NathanJe vais en prendre aussi.I am going to have some too.
- LéaNathan, tu en as déjà mangé beaucoup !Nathan, you have already eaten a lot!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries crabe, de, CC BY-SA 4.0.
