How to Say "Vanilla Bean" in French

gousse de vanille

The English phrase 'vanilla bean' is gousse de vanille in French.

The term refers to the seedpod of any plant in the Vanilla genus.

Meaning: the seedpod of any plant in the Vanilla genus (noun)

What does it mean word for word?

The phrase is composed of gousse (pod), de (of) and vanille (vanilla).

In Madagascar and the Reunion Island, the term Bourbon is used to refer to the variety of vanilla grown in those regions.

To make the phrase plural, you add an 's' to gousse to form gousses de vanille, but you do not change vanille.

The word gousse has a mysterious history, with some linguists suggesting it might have originally been linked to the Old Occitan word for a 'female dog'.
The term Bourbon vanilla refers to the geography of the Indian Ocean and not to the French royal dynasty.
In French, the word gousse is used for both a vanilla bean and a clove of garlic.

La gousse de vanille apporte une saveur délicate à ce dessert.
The vanilla bean adds a delicate flavor to this dessert.
J'aurais besoin de quelques gousses de vanille pour ma recette.
I would need a few vanilla beans for my recipe.
Ces muffins sont délicieux grâce à la vanille en gousse.
These muffins are delicious thanks to the vanilla bean.
J'utilise une gousse de vanille pour ce dessert.
I am using a vanilla bean for this dessert.
Cette gousse de vanille est très parfumée.
This vanilla bean is very fragrant.
Il faut ouvrir la gousse de vanille avec un couteau.
You must open the vanilla bean with a knife.

In a kitchen while preparing a custard.

Hugo

Emma, as-tu acheté la gousse de vanille ?
Emma, did you buy the vanilla bean?
Emma

Oui, elle est sur le plan de travail.
Yes, it is on the countertop.
Hugo

Parfait, je vais préparer la crème maintenant.
Perfect, I am going to prepare the cream now.
Emma

C'est une excellente idée, Hugo.
That is an excellent idea, Hugo.

Sources

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