noisette
/nwa.zɛt/feminine
The French word for hazelnut is noisette. Wiktionary also lists aveline.
Meaning: fruit (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| noisette | /nwa.zɛt/ | feminine |
| aveline | /a.vlin/ | feminine |
The word noisette is the standard, everyday term for a hazelnut used in both botanical and culinary contexts. In French cooking, noisette refers to the nut itself as well as flavors or sauces derived from it.
Which one should you use?
noisette is the common term used in everyday speech and cooking. In contrast, aveline is a more poetic or literary term that is rarely used in conversation or in the kitchen.
How does it change in a sentence?
Both noisette and aveline are feminine nouns. Because the word is feminine, you use the indefinite article une when saying une noisette (a hazelnut).
How do you pronounce it?
/nwa.zɛt/
Did you know?
- In a French café, ordering un café noisette does not give you a hazelnut flavored coffee, but rather an espresso with a tiny drop of steamed milk.
- In a French kitchen, the term noisette describes a way of browning butter until it smells toasted, even without any actual nuts being present.
- Because noisette refers to a specific color, French speakers might describe someone's eyes as noisette instead of using the word for brown.
Examples in context
- L'écureuil a mangé la noisette.The squirrel ate the hazelnut.This sentence shows the use of noisette in a simple context.Tatoeba #10624918 by lbdx, translation #5337553 by Sciuro_Kvar
- Je voudrais acheter des noisettes pour ma recette de gâteau.I would like to buy some hazelnuts for my cake recipe.
- J'adore le goût des noisettes dans les pâtisseries françaises.I love the taste of hazelnuts in French pastries.
- Les pâtes à tartiner à la noisette sont très populaires en France.Hazelnut spreads are very popular in France.
- Cette noisette est très petite.This hazelnut is very small.
Example conversation
Léa and Lucas are sharing snacks.
- LéaRegarde, j'ai trouvé une noisette !Look, I found a hazelnut!
- LucasElle a l'air très grosse.It looks very big.
- LéaJe vais la donner à l'oiseau.I am going to give it to the bird.
- LucasC'est une bonne idée, Léa.That is a good idea, Léa.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hazelnut” translations and entries noisette, aveline, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
