courgette
/kuʁ.ʒɛt/
Zucchini in French is courgette.
The word refers to a long, green summer squash used as a vegetable in cooking.
Which one should you use?
While English speakers use 'zucchini', French speakers use courgette to refer to the same vegetable.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In France, the standard word for zucchini is courgette.
How does it change in a sentence?
courgette is a feminine noun, so its plural form is les courgettes.
How do you pronounce it?
/kuʁ.ʒɛt/ (2 syllables)
Did you know?
- The word courgette is actually a diminutive, meaning it literally translates to 'little squash'.
- While English speakers use the Italian 'zucchini', using the same word in France might actually confuse a waiter or a grocer.
- French cuisine often uses courgette in a dish called ratatouille, where it is traditionally simmered with eggplant and peppers.
Examples in context
- La courgette est un légume d'été.Zucchini is a summer vegetable.This sentence is useful for stating that courgette is a summer vegetable.Tatoeba #8829379 by lbdx, translation #9494045 by shekitten
- Ziri mange les courgettes tous les jours.Ziri eats zucchini every day.This sentence is useful for describing a person eating courgette daily.Tatoeba #11682308 by Amastan, translation #10819367 by Amastan
- Les courgettes aident à traiter l'arthrite.Zucchini helps treat arthritis.This sentence is useful for noting that courgette helps treat arthritis.Tatoeba #12141410 by always, translation #10819361 by Amastan
- Je vais préparer une salade de courgettes ce soir.I'm going to make a zucchini salad tonight.
- Les plats à base de courgette sont légers et savoureux.Zucchini-based dishes are light and flavorful.
- Ce soir, j'ai mangé une délicieuse poêlée de courgettes.Tonight, I had a delicious zucchini stir-fry.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chloé and Hugo are at the local market.
- ChloéEst-ce qu'on a besoin d'une courgette ?Do we need a zucchini?
- HugoOui, pour la soupe de ce soir.Yes, for tonight's soup.
- ChloéPrends cette courgette, elle a l'air fraîche.Take this zucchini, it looks fresh.
- HugoD'accord, je la mets dans le panier.Okay, I'll put it in the basket.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry courgette, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries courgette, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
