ketchup
/kɛt.ʃœp/masculine
The English phrase ketchup is translated into French as ketchup.
ketchup refers to a sauce made from tomatoes and vinegar.
Meaning: tomato-vinegar based sauce (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The word is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of ketchup is /kɛt.ʃœp/. It has two syllables.
Did you know?
- The word ketchup is a linguistic traveler that actually traces its roots back to the Hokkien word kê-chiap, which originally referred to a fermented fish sauce rather than a tomato sauce.
- In some traditional French gastronomic circles, putting ketchup on a high-quality dish is considered a 'sacrilège' because it masks the natural flavor of the ingredients.
- French fast food menus often offer a sauce algérienne or sauce samouraï as alternatives to ketchup, reflecting the influence of North African flavors in France.
Examples in context
- Y a-t-il du ketchup ?Is there some ketchup?This sentence is useful for asking if ketchup is available.Tatoeba #1656339 by nimfeo, translation #1656341 by CM
- J'adore les frites avec du ketchup.I love french fries with ketchup.This sentence is useful for expressing a preference for fries with ketchup.Tatoeba #7745848 by lbdx, translation #7470009 by CK
- Je voudrais avoir du ketchup à part.I'd like to have ketchup on the side.This sentence is useful for requesting ketchup be served separately.Tatoeba #2596341 by Aiji, translation #62591 by CK
- 13 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hugo and Léa are at a burger restaurant.
- HugoEst-ce qu'il reste du ketchup ?Is there any ketchup left?
- LéaNon, il n'y a plus de ketchup.No, there is no more ketchup.
- HugoC'est dommage pour mon burger.That's a shame for my burger.
- LéaJe peux demander du ketchup au serveur.I can ask the waiter for some ketchup.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “ketchup” translations and entries ketchup, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ketchup, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
