j'adore le poulet
The English phrase "I love chicken" is expressed in French as j'adore le poulet.
Use this phrase to express a strong liking for chicken as a food.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "I love the chicken". The form j'adore is a contraction of je (I) and adore (love), which occurs because adore begins with a vowel.
Which one should you use?
While j'aime le poulet means "I like chicken", j'adore le poulet is used to express a much stronger and more enthusiastic preference.
How does it change in a sentence?
When expressing a general preference for a food, you must use the definite article le before the noun, as seen in le poulet.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not omit the article and say j'adore poulet. English speakers often make this mistake, but the definite article le is required in French for this meaning.
Did you know?
- In French slang, the word poulet is used to refer to a police officer. Using it in the wrong context could lead to a misunderstanding.
- The word le is a linguistic survivor from the Latin word illum. Over centuries of Middle French, the word was shortened by dropping the 'il-' and the '-m' to become the modern le.
- While adore is used for chicken, using it for people can sometimes imply a romantic or divine obsession. For familial love, the word aime is more common.
Examples in context
- Je n'aime pas les viandes rouges, mais j'adore le poulet.I do not like red meat, but I love chicken.This sentence is useful for contrasting a dislike of red meat with the phrase j'adore le poulet.Tatoeba #1945941 by Scott, translation #11588984 by machisma
Example conversation
Hugo and Emma are looking at a restaurant menu.
- HugoQu'est-ce que tu veux manger, Emma ?What do you want to eat, Emma?
- EmmaJe vais prendre le plat de volaille car j'adore le poulet.I'll have the poultry dish because I love chicken.
- HugoC'est un bon choix, c'est délicieux ici.That's a good choice, it's delicious here.
- EmmaOui, je sais que c'est très bon.Yes, I know it is very good.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries le, poulet, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
