mandarine
/mɑ̃.da.ʁin/feminine
The English phrase mandarin orange is translated into French as mandarine.
The term mandarine is used to refer to the fruit.
Meaning: fruit (noun)
Which one should you use?
In English, the word mandarin can refer to a language or a high-ranking official, but in French, mandarine specifically refers to the fruit.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun is feminine, so it is preceded by the feminine article la to say "the mandarin orange" (la mandarine).
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables and is pronounced /mɑ̃.da.ʁin/.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use the English word 'mandarin' instead of the French mandarine when referring to the fruit.
Did you know?
- In French, the word mandarine can be used metaphorically to describe a person who is an expert or a 'big shot' in a specific academic or professional field.
- The French word mandarine actually derives from the Portuguese word mandarim, which originally referred to the officials in China.
- The phrase mandarine is often associated with Christmas in France, as these citrus fruits are traditional winter seasonal treats.
Examples in context
- Une clémentine juteuseA juicy mandarin orange
- Une mandarine sucréeA sweet mandarin orange
- Une clémentine fraîcheA fresh mandarin orange
- Une poignée de mandarinesA handful of mandarin oranges
- Une caisse de clémentinesA crate of mandarin oranges
- Cette mandarine est très sucrée.This mandarin orange is very sweet.
- Je voudrais une mandarine, s'il vous plaît.I would like a mandarin orange, please.
- Il reste une mandarine dans le panier.There is one mandarin orange left in the basket.
Example conversation
Chloé and Hugo are in the kitchen preparing a snack.
- ChloéTu veux manger une mandarine, Hugo ?Do you want to eat a mandarin orange, Hugo?
- HugoOui, merci Chloé, elle a l'air bonne.Yes, thanks Chloé, it looks good.
- ChloéPrends la mandarine qui est sur la table.Take the mandarin orange that is on the table.
- HugoMerci, c'est très gentil de ta part.Thanks, that is very kind of you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mandarin orange” translations and entries mandarine, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mandarine, CC BY-SA 4.0.
