orange
/ɔ.ʁɑ̃ʒ/
The English phrase "orange fruit" is translated into French as orange.
The word refers to a round citrus fruit with bright orange skin and sweet or tart flesh.
Which one should you use?
While orange refers to the fruit, it can also be used as an adjective to describe the color orange. Unlike the noun, the adjective remains invariable and does not change its form based on gender or number.
How does it change in a sentence?
As a noun, orange is feminine, so you use the indefinite article une to say "an orange" (une orange). To form the plural, simply add an s to the end of the word to create des oranges.
How do you pronounce it?
/ɔ.ʁɑ̃ʒ/
Did you know?
- In Old French, the fruit was actually called a pomme d'orenge, which literally means 'apple of orange'.
- French distinguishes between orange the fruit and bigarade, a bitter orange used specifically in traditional Provencal sauces.
- While English uses 'orange' for both the fruit and the color, French historically used orange for the fruit first and applied it to the color later.
Examples in context
- Je voudrais acheter une orange.I would like to buy an orange.
- Elle a mangé une orange douce pour le dessert.She had a sweet orange for dessert.
- J'ai acheté des oranges pour le petit-déjeuner.I bought oranges for breakfast.
- J'adore les oranges juteuses en été.I love juicy oranges in the summertime.
- Je mange une orange.I am eating an orange.
- Cette orange est très sucrée.This orange is very sweet.
- Voulez-vous une orange ?Do you want an orange?
Example conversation
In a kitchen during breakfast.
- ManonHugo, est-ce qu'il reste une orange ?Hugo, is there an orange left?
- HugoOui, il y en a une sur la table.Yes, there is one on the table.
- ManonMerci, elle a l'air délicieuse.Thanks, it looks delicious.
- HugoBon appétit, Manon !Enjoy your meal, Manon!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry orange, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries orange, CC BY-SA 4.0.
