pinot noir
/pi.no nwaʁ/masculine
pinot noir is the French term for the wine known as Pinot Noir.
Meaning: wine (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
pinot noir is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/pi.no nwaʁ/. It has 2 syllables.
Did you know?
- The word pinot is thought to derive from the Old French word for 'pine cone', referring to the grape's small, conical shape. This relates to the diminutive suffix '-ot' used to describe something small.
- While English speakers often treat 'Pinot Noir' as a proper noun, French speakers treat pinot as a common noun. In a French vineyard, you are simply talking about a 'pinot' that happens to be 'noir'.
- French speakers use pinot noir to refer to both the specific variety of grape and the wine produced from it, as the language often merges the fruit and the drink.
Examples in context
- Je préfère le pinot noir.I prefer pinot noir.
- Ce pinot noir est excellent.This pinot noir is excellent.
- Voulez-vous un verre de pinot noir ?Would you like a glass of pinot noir?
Example conversation
Gabriel and Manon are choosing a bottle of wine at a restaurant.
- GabrielManon, tu préfères le pinot noir ?Manon, do you prefer the pinot noir?
- ManonOui, j'adore le pinot noir.Yes, I love pinot noir.
- GabrielOn va prendre une bouteille alors.We will take a bottle then.
- ManonC'est une excellente idée, Gabriel.That is an excellent idea, Gabriel.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pinot noir” translations and entries pinot noir, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries noir, pinot, CC BY-SA 4.0.
