citron vert
/si.tʁɔ̃ vɛʁ/masculine
The English word 'lime' can be translated into French as citron vert. Wiktionary also lists lime and limette.
Meaning: green citrus fruit (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| citron vert | /si.tʁɔ̃ vɛʁ/ | masculine |
| lime | /lim/ | feminine |
| limette | /li.mɛt/ | feminine |
The term refers to the green citrus fruit. You can use the phrase to describe products, such as jus de citron vert for lime juice, zeste de citron vert for lime zest or au goût de citron vert to say something is with a taste of lime.
What does it mean word for word?
The term citron vert is a compound consisting of citron, meaning lemon and vert, meaning green. Literally, it translates to 'green lemon'.
Which one should you use?
While citron refers to a lemon, adding the adjective vert specifies the green citrus fruit known as a lime.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase citron vert is masculine. Consequently, you should use the indefinite article un citron vert and the definite article le citron vert.
How do you pronounce it?
/si.tʁɔ̃ vɛʁ/
Did you know?
- The word citron is etymologically linked to the word for 'cedar' or 'juniper' in Ancient Greek, a connection not immediately obvious in the modern fruit.
- In French, the word citron can refer to both a lemon and the ancestral citron fruit, whereas English uses 'lemon' and 'citron' as distinct plants.
Examples in context
- Ça serait chouette si vous aviez un quartier de citron vert que je puisse presser dans mon eau glacée.It would be nice if you had a wedge of lime I could squeeze into my icewater.This sentence shows how to request a wedge of citron vert for a drink.Tatoeba #1953675 by sacredceltic, translation #1953487 by _undertoad
- Puis-je avoir du jus de citron vert, s'il vous plaît?May I have some lime juice, please?
- Je vais prendre un verre avec du citron vertI'll have a drink with lime
- Je préfère les boissons avec de la limetteI prefer drinks with lime
- Je voudrais un cocktail au citron vertI would like a lime cocktail
- Cette sauce a un goût de citron vertThis sauce has a taste of lime
- Je vais acheter un citron vert pour mon cocktail.I am going to buy a lime for my cocktail.
- Le jus de citron vert est très acide.The lime juice is very acidic.
Example conversation
Léa and Nathan are in the kitchen preparing drinks.
- LéaNathan, est-ce qu'il reste un citron vert ?Nathan, is there a lime left?
- NathanNon, je n'en ai plus du tout.No, I don't have any left at all.
- LéaAh, mince, j'en avais besoin pour ma limonade.Oh, shoot, I needed one for my lemonade.
- NathanJe peux aller en chercher un au magasin.I can go get one at the store.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lime” translations and entries citron vert, lime, limette, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries citron, lime, limette, vert, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
