manger
/mɑ̃.ʒe/
The English phrase 'eating' is translated into French as manger.
In French, the act of consuming food is often expressed using the verb manger. Specific meals are named individually: le petit-déjeuner for breakfast, le déjeuner for lunch and le dîner for dinner.
Meaning: the act of consuming food (noun)
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
While manger is the standard term, you may encounter bouffer, which is a colloquial way to say 'to eat'. For a very informal onomatopoeic expression that mimics the sound of eating, you can use miam-miam.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some parts of France, the idiom casser la croûte is used to mean 'to eat'.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the noun 'eating' in a general sense, French uses the infinitive verb manger, which means 'to eat'. To express the continuous action of eating (such as 'while eating'), use the present participle mangeant.
How do you pronounce it?
/mɑ̃.ʒe/
When do people say it?
If you want to express that you are extremely hungry, you can use the phrase j'ai la dalle, which means 'I'm starving'.
Did you know?
- The expression j'ai la dalle uses the word dalle, which can mean 'slab' or 'floor tile', to describe an empty, hollow feeling in the stomach.
- The word manger comes from the Late Latin manducāre, which specifically meant 'to chew' or 'devour' rather than just 'to eat'.
- French has a specific culinary term, le grignotage, which describes the act of 'nibbling' or eating small snacks between meals.
Examples in context
- J'ai fini de manger.I'm finished eating.This sentence shows how to use manger to state you have finished the action.Tatoeba #5680682 by Yemana, translation #2247992 by CK
- Il est bon de manger.Eating is good.This sentence uses manger to make a general statement about eating being good.Tatoeba #1121083 by sacredceltic, translation #1120805 by cntrational
- Il me plait de manger.Eating pleases me.This sentence uses manger to express that the act of eating is pleasing.Tatoeba #1122361 by sacredceltic, translation #1122344 by cntrational
- Je vais dîner dans un restaurant chic ce soir.I am going to dine at a fancy restaurant tonight.
- Il faut manger prudemment lors d'événements professionnels.It is necessary to eat cautiously during professional events.
- On va bouffer une pizza ce soir?Shall we eat pizza tonight?
- 310 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gabriel and Emma are discussing their daily habits.
- GabrielLe manger est essentiel pour la santé.Eating is essential for health.
- EmmaC'est vrai, mais j'aime surtout cuisiner.That's true, but I especially love cooking.
- GabrielLe manger sain demande du temps.Healthy eating takes time.
- EmmaOui, mais c'est très important, Gabriel.Yes, but it is very important, Gabriel.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry manger, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries manger, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
