litchi
/lit.ʃi/masculine
The English word lychee is litchi in French. Wiktionary also lists letchi.
Meaning: fruit (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| litchi | /lit.ʃi/ | masculine |
| letchi | /lɛt.ʃi/ | masculine |
litchi and letchi are both nouns used to refer to the lychee fruit.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun is masculine, so you use the definite article le or the indefinite article un.
How do you pronounce it?
/lit.ʃi/
Did you know?
- The word litchi is used in French to describe a specific olfactory note in high-end perfumery, often described as a 'fruity-floral' accord.
- The French language treats the flavor of lychee as a distinct category in pastry, often pairing litchi with rose to create a specific flavor profile known as 'Ispahan'.
- While litchi is the standard spelling in France, the spelling letchi is far more common in the French-speaking Indian Ocean islands like Mauritius and Réunion.
Examples in context
- J'aime beaucoup les litchis. Leur goût sucré est délicieux!I really like lychees. Their sweet taste is delicious!
- Ce litchi est très sucré.This lychee is very sweet.
- Je voudrais un litchi, s'il vous plaît.I would like a lychee, please.
- Il y a un litchi dans le bol.There is a lychee in the bowl.
Example conversation
Léa and Nathan are at a fruit market.
- LéaEst-ce que ce litchi est frais ?Is this lychee fresh?
- NathanOui, il est parfait, Léa.Yes, it is perfect, Léa.
- LéaPrends-en deux pour nous, Nathan.Take two for us, Nathan.
- NathanD'accord, j'en prends deux.Okay, I'll take two.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lychee” translations and entries litchi, letchi, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
