jambon
/ʒɑ̃.bɔ̃/
jambon is the French word for ham.
jambon refers to meat from the leg of a pig that has been cured. You can use specific phrases to denote certain types, such as jambon de Parme for Parma ham or jambon de Bayonne for Bayonne ham.
Which one should you use?
While jambon is the general term, you may need to be more specific about the preparation. Use jambon blanc to specify cooked ham, and use jambon cru to specify cured or dry-cured ham.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 2 syllables and is pronounced /ʒɑ̃.bɔ̃/.
Did you know?
- In French slang, calling someone a jambon can be a way of saying they are naive or easily fooled, similar to the English expression 'being had'.
- The phrase jambon-beurre refers to a classic French sandwich of ham and butter, which is considered a cultural icon of Parisian street food.
- The word jambon is a diminutive of jambe, meaning 'leg'. Because of the suffix '-on', the word literally translates to 'little leg'.
Examples in context
- Pourriez-vous me préparer un sandwich au jambon, s'il vous plaît ?Could you please make me a ham sandwich?
- Je voudrais un sandwich au jambon.I would like a ham sandwich.
- Il y a du jambon dans le frigo.There is some ham in the fridge.
- Est-ce que tu préfères le jambon ou le poulet ?Do you prefer ham or chicken?
Example conversation
Manon and Nathan are deciding what to eat for lunch.
- ManonEst-ce que tu veux du jambon ?Do you want some ham?
- NathanOui, avec un peu de beurre.Yes, with a little bit of butter.
- ManonJe vais couper le jambon maintenant.I am going to cut the ham now.
- NathanMerci beaucoup, Manon.Thank you very much, Manon.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry jambon, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries jambon, CC BY-SA 4.0.
