navet
/na.vɛ/masculine
The English word "turnip" is navet in French.
The primary meaning of navet is the white root of the plant Brassica rapa. In a colloquial sense, the term un navet is also used to describe a very bad, boring or poorly made film.
Meaning: white root of Brassica rapa (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables and is pronounced /na.vɛ/.
Did you know?
- A common French winter dish is navets glacés, where the vegetable is cooked with sugar and butter to create a sweet and savory contrast.
- In some regional French dialects, the word navet can be used to describe a person who is perceived as slow or dull.
- Unlike the English 'turnip', which is often associated with the purple-topped variety, navet in France usually refers to the smaller, white-topped variety.
Examples in context
- Bonjour, pour la soupe, pouvez-vous m'apporter un navet?Hello, for the soup, can you bring me a turnip?
- Je prépare une purée de rutabaga ce soir.I'm making mashed rutabagas tonight.
- La recette traditionnelle inclut du chou-navet.The traditional recipe includes kohlrabi.
- Je déteste les navets !I hate turnips!
- un navetA turnip
- Le navet est dans le panier.The turnip is in the basket.
- Je coupe un navet pour la soupe.I am cutting a turnip for the soup.
Example conversation
Chloé and Hugo are in a kitchen preparing dinner.
- ChloéHugo, est-ce qu'il reste un navet ?Hugo, is there a turnip left?
- HugoOui, il y a un navet sur la table.Yes, there is a turnip on the table.
- ChloéParfait, je vais l'utiliser pour la recette.Perfect, I am going to use it for the recipe.
- HugoD'accord, je te prépare le reste des légumes.Okay, I will prepare the rest of the vegetables for you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “turnip” translations and entries navet, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
