groseilles
The English phrase 'currants' is translated into French as groseilles.
groseilles refers to small, tart berries that grow on shrubs. To be specific about the variety, you can use groseilles rouges for red currants and groseilles noires for black currants. If you are referring to dried currants, the French term is raisins de Corinthe. For culinary preparations, you might encounter gelée de groseilles (currant jelly) or clafoutis aux groseilles (currant clafoutis). When dealing with blackcurrant products, such as pâte de cassis (blackcurrant paste) or sorbet au cassis (blackcurrant sorbet), the word cassis is used.
Which one should you use?
While groseilles is the general term for currants, you should use groseille à maquereau specifically when you want to say gooseberry.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word is a feminine noun. Therefore, the singular form for a single currant is une groseille.
Did you know?
- The French term for gooseberry, groseille à maquereau, literally translates to 'mackerel currant'.
- The word cassis is so culturally ingrained in France that it is the primary flavor of the 'Kir' cocktail, a famous aperitif from the Burgundy region.
- In French, the berries we call 'currants' are divided linguistically between groseilles and raisins de Corinthe, because the dried currants used in English baking are actually a type of small grape.
Examples in context
- Les groseilles sont plus petites que les fraises.Red currants are smaller than strawberries.This sentence is useful for comparing the size of groseilles to strawberries.Tatoeba #11741097 by lbdx, translation #2793118 by AlanF_US
- Les groseilles rouges, malgré ce que leur couleur pourrait indiquer, ne sont pas toxiques.Red currants, despite what their color might indicate, are not poisonous.This sentence highlights that groseilles rouges are not poisonous despite their color.Tatoeba #8313610 by AmarMecheri, translation #8299280 by AlanF_US
- J'ai utilisé des groseilles dans ma recette de tarte aux fruits.I used currants in my fruit tart recipe.
- Les groseilles noires sont idéales pour les confitures.Black currants are perfect for making jam.
- Je vais faire une tarte avec des cassis frais.I'm going to make a tart with fresh currants.
- Tu peux ajouter quelques cassis dans ta salade de fruits.You can add some currants to your fruit salad.
- J'ai ramassé des groseilles dans le jardin.I picked some currants in the garden.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Emma and Hugo are shopping for fruit at a market.
- EmmaRegarde, Hugo, ces groseilles ont l'air délicieuses.Look, Hugo, these currants look delicious.
- HugoC'est vrai, on en prend un petit panier ?True, shall we get a small basket of them?
- EmmaOui, je vais en acheter pour le dessert.Yes, I will buy some for dessert.
- HugoParfait, je t'aide à porter les sacs.Perfect, I'll help you carry the bags.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
