j'aime les cornichons
In French, "I like pickles" is said as j'aime les cornichons.
This phrase is used to express a fondness for pickled cucumbers. Note that while the English word "pickles" can refer to many types of pickled vegetables, cornichons specifically refers to the small, tart pickled cucumbers common in France.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "I like the pickles" because French uses the definite article les to express a general preference for a category of food.
How does it change in a sentence?
When expressing a general like or dislike for a noun in French, you must use the definite article (le, la, les) rather than no article at all.
Did you know?
- In French, calling someone a cornichon is a way of calling them a 'dummy' or a naive person, similar to the English 'silly goose'.
- The word cornichon comes from the Old French word 'corne', meaning 'horn', because the vegetable's shape was once thought to resemble a small horn.
- On a traditional French charcuterie board, especially in the north, cornichons are often considered a mandatory accompaniment rather than an optional garnish.
Examples in context
- J'aime les cornichons avec mon sandwich.I like pickles with my sandwich.
- Est-ce que tu sais que j'aime les cornichons ?Do you know that I like pickles?
- J'aime les cornichons quand ils sont croquants.I like pickles when they are crunchy.
Example conversation
Gabriel and Emma are sharing a platter of appetizers.
- GabrielTu veux un cornichon, Emma ?Do you want a pickle, Emma?
- EmmaOui, j'aime les cornichons !Yes, I like pickles!
- GabrielMoi aussi, ils sont très croquants.Me too, they are very crunchy.
- EmmaC'est vrai, ils sont délicieux.That's true, they are delicious.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries les, CC BY-SA 4.0.
