patate douce
/pa.tat dus/feminine
The English phrase "sweet potato" is patate douce in French. Wiktionary also lists patate and patate sucrée.
Meaning: tuber (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| patate douce | /pa.tat dus/ | feminine |
| patate | /pa.tat/ | feminine |
| patate sucrée | feminine |
The term refers to the sweet potato tuber.
What does it mean word for word?
The term is composed of patate (potato) and douce (sweet).
Which one should you use?
While patate is a common colloquial term for a regular potato, patate douce is the specific term for a sweet potato.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Pomme de terre douce is a more formal or technical way to refer to a sweet potato than patate douce.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The term patate sucrée is particularly popular among French Canadians.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the phrase plural, both the noun and the adjective must take an 's', resulting in patates douces.
Did you know?
- In French slang, the expression donner une patate means to deliver a heavy punch or a hard hit to someone.
- Calling someone a patate in French slang is a way of calling them 'dim-witted' or 'clumsy'.
- The word patate has an unexpected linguistic ancestor in the Taíno word batata, which specifically meant 'sweet potato' before it was used for the regular potato.
Examples in context
- J'adore manger des patates douces rôties avec du romarin.I love eating roasted sweet potatoes with rosemary.
- Aujourd'hui, je vais préparer une purée de pommes de terre douces.Today, I'm going to make a mashed sweet potato.
- Chez moi, les patates sucrées sont un incontournable pour les repas de fête.At my place, sweet potatoes are a must-have for holiday meals.
- Cette patate douce est très sucrée.This sweet potato is very sweet.
- Je voudrais une patate douce au four.I would like a baked sweet potato.
- Il reste une patate douce dans le sac.There is one sweet potato left in the bag.
Example conversation
Nathan and Manon are preparing dinner in the kitchen.
- NathanManon, est-ce qu'on a une patate douce ?Manon, do we have a sweet potato?
- ManonOui, elle est sur le plan de travail.Yes, it is on the counter.
- NathanSuper, je vais la couper.Great, I am going to cut it.
- ManonD'accord, Nathan, fais attention à tes doigts.Okay, Nathan, watch your fingers.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sweet potato” translations and entries patate douce, patate, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries patate, CC BY-SA 4.0.
