avoine
/a.vwan/feminine
The English word "oats" is translated into French as avoine. If unsure, use avoine. Wiktionary also lists flocon d'avoine.
Meaning: seeds of an oat plant (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| avoine | /a.vwan/ | feminine |
| flocon d'avoine | masculine |
avoine is the noun used to refer to the seeds of an oat plant.
Which one should you use?
While avoine refers to the grain in general, flocon d'avoine is the specific term used for rolled oats or oat flakes used in breakfast cereals.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /a.vwan/ and consists of 2 syllables.
Did you know?
- The word flocon, used in flocon d'avoine, is also the French word for a 'snowflake'.
- The term flocon is derived from the Latin word floccus, which originally meant a 'tuft of wool'.
- In French culture, l'avoine is historically associated with horses, and the term avoine can evoke the image of a stable rather than a breakfast table.
Examples in context
- Depuis longtemps l'avoine est un aliment pour chevaux et mulets.Oats have long been food for horses and mules.This sentence shows how avoine is used to describe food for animals like horses and mules.Tatoeba #1976306 by nimfeo, translation #805405 by Source_VOA
- L'avoine est excellente pour la santé.Oats are excellent for health.
- Il achète de l'avoine pour ses animaux.He buys oats for his animals.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
At a breakfast table in a kitchen.
- ChloéEst-ce qu'il reste de l'avoine ?Is there any oats left?
- GabrielOui, il y en a dans le placard.Yes, there are some in the cupboard.
- ChloéParfait, je vais préparer mon petit-déjeuner.Perfect, I am going to prepare my breakfast.
- GabrielBon appétit, Chloé !Enjoy your meal, Chloé!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “oats” translations and entries avoine, flocon d'avoine, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries avoine, flocon, flocon d'avoine, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
