gaz poivre
masculine
The English phrase 'pepper spray' is translated into French as gaz poivre. Wiktionary also lists gaz poivré and poivre de Cayenne.
Meaning: non-lethal riot-control agent (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| gaz poivre | masculine | |
| gaz poivré | masculine | |
| poivre de Cayenne | /pwavʁ də ka.jɛn/ | masculine |
The term refers to a non-lethal riot-control agent.
Which one should you use?
The term gaz poivre uses the noun poivre (pepper), while gaz poivré uses the past participle poivré (peppered). Both refer to the same substance.
Did you know?
- The root of poivre de Cayenne is actually the Old Tupi word quiínia for 'hot pepper'.
Examples in context
- Pourriez-vous m'indiquer où je peux acheter un aérosol au poivre ?Could you tell me where I can buy pepper spray?
Example conversation
Gabriel and Léa are discussing safety gear for a trip.
- GabrielLéa, as-tu acheté du gaz poivre ?Léa, did you buy some pepper spray?
- LéaOui, j'en ai un dans mon sac.Yes, I have some in my bag.
- GabrielC'est prudent de prendre du gaz poivre.It is prudent to take pepper spray.
- LéaJe suis d'accord avec toi, Gabriel.I agree with you, Gabriel.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pepper spray” translations and entries poivre de Cayenne, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Cayenne, cayenne, de, gaz, poivre, poivre de Cayenne, CC BY-SA 4.0.
