pot
/po/masculine
The English word "pot" translates to French as pot, marmite or chaudron.
Meaning: vessel for cooking or storing food etc. (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| pot | /po/ /pɔ/ |
masculine |
| marmite | /maʁ.mit/ | feminine |
| chaudron | /ʃo.dʁɔ̃/ | masculine |
In French, the word used for a pot depends heavily on whether you are referring to a container for storage, a cooking vessel or a large heavy cauldron.
Which one should you use?
While pot can mean a cooking vessel, it most commonly refers to a jar, container or a pot for non-cooking uses like a flower pot. Use marmite specifically when referring to a large pot used for cooking stews or boiling liquids on a stove. Use chaudron to refer to a large, heavy metal cauldron, often associated with traditional cooking or folklore.
How does it change in a sentence?
pot is a masculine noun, while marmite is a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/po/
Did you know?
- The original term for 'hypocrite' in Old French may have come from words meaning 'to mutter' and 'cat'. It described someone who was evasive by 'meowing' or 'murmuring' instead of speaking clearly.
- While marmite is a common word for a cooking pot, it is also the name of a famous salty yeast extract spread sold in the UK and France.
Examples in context
- Le pot de fleurs est cassé.The flower pot is broken.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use pot in the context of a flower pot.Tatoeba #5801791 by Toynop, translation #4809465 by mervert1
- Bob remplit la marmite d'eau.Bob filled the pot with water.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use marmite in the context of filling a pot with water.Tatoeba #4271043 by mariezou, translation #33206 by CN
- Remplissez le pot avec de l'eau.Fill the pot with water.Tatoeba #2859753 by Aiji, translation #2844213 by CK
- J'ai préparé un délicieux ragoût dans ma cocotte.I prepared a delicious stew in my cooking pot.
- J'ai placé les belles fleurs dans un vase en terre cuite.I put the beautiful flowers in a terracotta flowerpot.
- 26 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Manon and Nathan are preparing dinner in the kitchen.
- ManonOù est le pot pour la soupe ?Where is the pot for the soup?
- NathanIl est dans le placard, Manon.It is in the cupboard, Manon.
- ManonJe ne trouve pas ce pot.I cannot find that pot.
- NathanRegarde derrière la casserole, Nathan t'aide.Look behind the pan, Nathan is helping you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pot” translations and entries pot, marmite, chaudron, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries chaudron, marmite, pot, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
