bio
/bjo/
The English phrase organic is translated into French as bio or biologique.
Meaning: of food and food products: grown without agrichemicals (adj)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA |
|---|---|
| bio | /bjo/ |
| biologique | /bjɔ.lɔ.ʒik/ |
When referring to food and food products that are grown without agrichemicals, French speakers use the terms bio or biologique.
Which one should you use?
biologique is the full adjective, while bio is the shortened version commonly used in daily speech.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
biologique is the formal version, but in casual conversation and on many commercial labels, the shortened form bio is preferred.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word bio is invariable, meaning it does not change its form for masculine, feminine or plural nouns. In contrast, the adjective biologique agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies.
How do you pronounce it?
/bjo/
When do people say it?
To identify organic products, you will often see the label AB, which stands for Agriculture Biologique.
Did you know?
- The word biologique is used in French to describe the biological sciences, meaning a 'biologique' clock is a 'biological' clock, not an 'organic' one.
- In casual conversation, bio can be used as a shorthand for a person who lives a very natural or holistic lifestyle, similar to calling someone a 'health nut'.
- The abbreviation AB for Agriculture Biologique is a legally protected logo in France, meaning a product cannot carry it unless it meets strict national certification standards.
Examples in context
- Tous les ingrédients sont bio.All the ingredients are organic.This sentence is useful for stating that all ingredients are bio.Tatoeba #12578468 by lbdx, translation #7446762 by Hybrid
- La nourriture bio est plus saine.Organic food is healthier.This sentence is useful for describing organic food as healthier.Tatoeba #2264042 by sacredceltic, translation #2239366 by Hybrid
- La nourriture bio goûte meilleur.Organic food tastes better.This sentence is useful for saying that organic food tastes better.Tatoeba #2264045 by sacredceltic, translation #2239360 by Hybrid
- La ferme cultive des légumes biologiques de haute qualité.The farm cultivates high-quality organic vegetables.
- Nous soutenons l'agriculture écologique pour préserver la biodiversité.We support organic agriculture to preserve biodiversity.
- J'achète toujours des légumes bio au marché.I always buy organic vegetables at the market.
- 17 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nathan and Chloé are shopping for groceries at a local market.
- NathanTu veux prendre ces tomates ?Do you want to take these tomatoes?
- ChloéOui, mais vérifie si elles sont bio.Yes, but check if they are organic.
- NathanOui, elles sont bio, c'est écrit ici.Yes, they are organic, it says here.
- ChloéParfait, on les prend alors.Perfect, let's take them then.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “organic” translations and entries bio, biologique, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
