boulette
/bu.lɛt/feminine
The French word for "meatball" is boulette.
A boulette is a ball of minced or ground meat. However, because the word can be quite general, it is very common to use the full phrase boulette de viande to specify that the object is made of meat.
Meaning: ball of minced or ground meat (noun)
Which one should you use?
The word boulette is a general term that can refer to any small, round object, such as a dumpling or a small ball of dough, rather than being exclusive to meat.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural of boulette is boulettes.
How do you pronounce it?
/bu.lɛt/
Did you know?
- In French slang, the phrase faire une boulette means to make a clumsy mistake or a 'blunder'. It describes a social or professional slip-up rather than a culinary one.
- Because boulette can mean a 'small ball', it is also used in the phrase boulette de papier to describe a crumpled ball of paper.
- If you are talking about a 'meatball' in a very formal recipe, you might see the term quenelle used instead, depending on the shape and texture.
Examples in context
- J'adore les boulettes dans la sauce tomate.I love meatballs in tomato sauce.
- Ce restaurant propose de savoureuses boulettes de viande.This restaurant offers delicious meatballs.
- Je vais préparer de délicieuses boulettes pour le dîner.I'm going to make delicious meatballs for dinner.
- Elles ont ajouté des petites boulettes au plat.They added little meatballs to the dish.
- La boulette est très tendre.The meatball is very tender.
- Je veux une boulette avec des pâtes.I want a meatball with pasta.
- Elle a préparé une grande boulette.She prepared a large meatball.
Example conversation
A couple is eating dinner at a restaurant.
- GabrielEst-ce que tu aimes cette boulette ?Do you like this meatball?
- EmmaOui, elle est délicieuse, Gabriel.Yes, it is delicious, Gabriel.
- GabrielJe vais en commander une autre.I am going to order another one.
- EmmaC'est une bonne idée !That is a good idea!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “meatball” translations and entries boulette, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
