mandarine
/mɑ̃.da.ʁin/feminine
The English phrase "tangerine" (referring to the fruit) is translated into French as mandarine or tangerine.
Meaning: fruit (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| mandarine | /mɑ̃.da.ʁin/ | feminine |
| tangerine | feminine |
Both words refer to the citrus fruit. However, the related adjective mandarine can also be used to describe the color tangerine.
Which one should you use?
While both words are used, mandarine is the much more common term for the fruit in French than tangerine.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Canadian French, the term tangerine can be heard in informal conversations.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of the fruit is mandarines.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables and is pronounced /mɑ̃.da.ʁin/.
Did you know?
- The word mandarine shares its name with the high-ranking officials in the Chinese imperial bureaucracy. This connection stems from the Portuguese word for these officials, which eventually gave its name to the fruit.
- In French, the term mandarine can be used metaphorically to describe someone who is highly refined or possesses a scholarly air, mirroring the 'mandarin' officials.
- In French culinary contexts, a mandarine is frequently distinguished from an orange not just by size but by the ease with which the skin can be peeled.
Examples in context
- Les différentes saveurs disponibles sont : pomme figue, noix de coco, myrtille, fruit du dragon, pêche nectarine, pastèque, fraise abricot, tropical, grenade, mandarine, noix de coco baies, amélanche et baies des bois. Ou tout simplement goût cola.The different flavours available are: apple fig, coconut, blueberry, dragon fruit, peach nectarine, watermelon, strawberry apricot, tropical, pomegranate, tangerine, coconut berries, juneberry and forest berries. Or simply cola flavored.This sentence is useful for seeing mandarine used in a list of flavors.Tatoeba #13441294 by QuentiBc, translation #13441302 by QuentiBc
- Ceci est une mandarine.This is a tangerine.This sentence is useful for identifying the fruit with mandarine.Tatoeba #8132474 by Adelpa, translation #12831854 by rul
- Il prendra une mandarine.He will take a tangerine.This sentence is useful for showing the use of mandarine in a sentence about taking a piece of fruit.Tatoeba #11006429 by LdjuherTaqvaylit, translation #11938057 by LdjuherTaqvaylit
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chloé and Hugo are preparing a fruit salad.
- ChloéEst-ce que tu veux une mandarine ?Do you want a tangerine?
- HugoOui, je vais l'éplucher.Yes, I will peel it.
- ChloéCette mandarine est très sucrée.This tangerine is very sweet.
- HugoC'est vrai, elle est délicieuse.That's true, it is delicious.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tangerine” translations and entries mandarine, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mandarine, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
