In this complete guide on kitchen utensils in French, you’ll discover over 80 essential words for cooking, eating, baking, and more. Each term includes its French name, easy-to-read pronunciation, and a quick cultural note so you can sound authentic. By the end, you’ll not only recognize these words but also confidently use them when talking about food in French. Let’s dive in!
Section 1: Cooking & Preparation Utensils
When you step into a French kitchen, the first thing you’ll notice is the variety of tools for cooking and preparation. These utensils help make those famous French sauces, soups, and main dishes.
Here are 12 essential cooking utensils in French:
| English | French | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Saucepan | Une casserole | (ewn kass-oh-rel) |
| Frying pan | Une poêle | (ewn pwahl) |
| Pot | Une marmite | (ewn mar-meet) |
| Dutch oven | Une cocotte | (ewn koh-kot) |
| Knife | Un couteau | (uhn koo-toh) |
| Cutting board | Une planche à découper | (ewn plahnsh ah day-koo-pehr) |
| Peeler | Un éplucheur | (uhn ay-ploo-shuhr) |
| Ladle | Une louche | (ewn loosh) |
| Whisk | Un fouet | (uhn foo-eh) |
| Grater | Une râpe | (ewn rahp) |
| Wooden spoon | Une cuillère en bois | (ewn kwee-yair on bwah) |
| Spatula | Une spatule | (ewn spah-tul) |
French Cultural Tip:
In France, une cocotte doesn’t only mean a Dutch oven; it can also refer to a pressure cooker. If you’re buying one, clarify what type you need by saying cocotte-minute for a pressure cooker.
Section 2: Eating & Serving Utensils
When it comes to dining in France, table manners and the right utensils matter a lot. Whether you’re at a fancy Parisian restaurant or enjoying a casual family dinner, knowing these words is essential.
| English | French | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Plate | Une assiette | (ewn ah-syet) |
| Bowl | Un bol | (uhn bohl) |
| Glass | Un verre | (uhn vehr) |
| Cup | Une tasse | (ewn tahss) |
| Spoon | Une cuillère | (ewn kwee-yair) |
| Fork | Une fourchette | (ewn foorsh-ett) |
| Table knife | Un couteau de table | (uhn koo-toh duh tabl) |
| Napkin | Une serviette | (ewn sehr-vyet) |
| Pitcher | Une carafe | (ewn kah-rahf) |
| Saucer | Une soucoupe | (ewn soo-koop) |
| Salt shaker | Une salière | (ewn sah-lyair) |
| Pepper shaker | Une poivrière | (ewn pwahv-ryair) |
French Reality:
At a formal French meal, you’ll often see cloth napkins (serviettes en tissu) instead of paper ones. The presentation is as important as the taste!
Section 3: Kitchen Appliances
Modern kitchens in France are well-equipped with appliances that make cooking easier. If you’re staying in a French home or renting an apartment, these are the terms you’ll encounter.
| English | French | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Oven | Un four | (uhn foor) |
| Stove | Une cuisinière | (ewn kwee-zee-nyair) |
| Microwave | Un micro-ondes | (uhn mee-kroh-ond) |
| Toaster | Un grille-pain | (uhn gree-yuh-pahn) |
| Kettle | Une bouilloire | (ewn boo-ywah) |
| Blender | Un mixeur | (uhn mee-ksoor) |
| Food processor | Un robot de cuisine | (uhn roh-boh duh kwee-zeen) |
| Refrigerator | Un réfrigérateur | (uhn ray-free-jay-ra-tur) |
| Freezer | Un congélateur | (uhn kohn-zhay-la-tur) |
| Kitchen hood | Une hotte | (ewn oht) |
| Dishwasher | Un lave-vaisselle | (uhn lav-vay-sell) |
| Electric mixer | Un batteur électrique | (uhn bah-tur ay-lek-treek) |
French Tip:
In French, un robot in the kitchen is not a sci-fi machine—it’s your trusty food processor!
Section 4: Baking Tools
French baking is world-famous for a reason, and if you want to try your hand at croissants or tarte tatin, you need these tools.
| English | French | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Rolling pin | Un rouleau à pâtisserie | (uhn roo-loh ah pah-tees-ree) |
| Cake pan | Un moule à gâteau | (uhn mool ah gah-toh) |
| Tart pan | Un moule à tarte | (uhn mool ah tart) |
| Baking tray | Une plaque de cuisson | (ewn plahk duh kwee-sohn) |
| Parchment paper | Du papier sulfurisé | (doo pah-pyay sool-fyoo-ree-zay) |
| Kitchen scale | Une balance de cuisine | (ewn bah-lahns duh kwee-zeen) |
| Measuring cup | Un verre doseur | (uhn vehr doh-zuhr) |
| Measuring spoon | Une cuillère à mesurer | (ewn kwee-yair ah meh-zoor) |
| Dough scraper | Une corne de pâtissier | (ewn korn duh pah-tees-yay) |
| Cooling rack | Une grille de refroidissement | (ewn gree-yuh duh ruh-fwah-dees-mahn) |
| Pastry brush | Un pinceau de cuisine | (uhn pan-soh duh kwee-zeen) |
| Mixing bowl | Un saladier | (uhn sah-lah-dyay) |
French Reality:
Precision matters in French baking. Une balance de cuisine (kitchen scale) is non-negotiable because recipes often give ingredients in grams instead of cups.
Section 5: Storage & Cleaning Items
Once the cooking is done, storage and cleaning come next. Here’s what you’ll find in French kitchens:
| English | French | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Food container | Un tupperware | (uhn too-pehr-wehr) |
| Jar | Un bocal | (uhn boh-kal) |
| Box | Une boîte | (ewn bwat) |
| Plastic wrap | Du film plastique | (doo feelm plas-teek) |
| Aluminum foil | Du papier aluminium | (doo pah-pyay ah-loo-mee-nyoom) |
| Sponge | Une éponge | (ewn ay-ponzh) |
| Dish towel | Un torchon | (uhn tor-shohn) |
| Sink | Un évier | (uhn ay-vyay) |
| Trash can | Une poubelle | (ewn poo-bell) |
| Cupboard | Un placard | (uhn plah-kar) |
| Broom | Un balai | (uhn bah-lay) |
| Dustpan | Une pelle à poussière | (ewn pel ah poo-syair) |
French Tip:
In France, the word Tupperware is used for any plastic food container, even if it’s not the actual brand!
Section 6: Specialty Kitchen Items
These items are for specific tasks like opening wine or making tea.
| English | French | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Can opener | Un ouvre-boîte | (uhn oovr-bwaht) |
| Corkscrew | Un tire-bouchon | (uhn teer-boo-shohn) |
| Strainer | Une passoire | (ewn pah-swahr) |
| Coffee maker | Une cafetière | (ewn kah-fyet-yair) |
| Teapot | Une théière | (ewn tay-yair) |
| Mortar & pestle | Un mortier et pilon | (uhn mor-tyay ay pee-lohn) |
| Pepper mill | Un moulin à poivre | (uhn moo-lahn ah pwahv-ruh) |
| Sauce boat | Une saucière | (ewn soh-syair) |
| Tea strainer | Une passoire à thé | (ewn pah-swahr ah tay) |
| Paring peeler | Un économe | (uhn ay-koh-nom) |
| Fine sieve | Un chinois | (uhn shee-nwah) |
| Citrus juicer | Un presse-agrumes | (uhn press-ah-groom) |
French Reality:
No French kitchen is complete without un tire-bouchon (corkscrew)—wine is part of the culture!
Section 7: Table Setting & Serving Items
Hosting a dinner? These are the words you need to set the table like a true French host.
| English | French | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Tray | Un plateau | (uhn plah-toh) |
| Serving dish | Un plat de service | (uhn plah duh sehr-vees) |
| Soup tureen | Une soupière | (ewn soo-pyair) |
| Bread basket | Une corbeille à pain | (ewn kor-bay ah pah) |
| Tablecloth | Une nappe | (ewn nap) |
| Trivet | Un dessous de plat | (uhn duh-soo duh plah) |
| Butter dish | Un beurrier | (uhn burr-yay) |
| Dessert dish | Une coupe | (ewn koop) |
| Cutlery set | Une ménagère | (ewn may-nah-zhair) |
| Jug | Une cruche | (ewn kroosh) |
| Serving ladle | Une louche de service | (ewn loosh duh sehr-vees) |
| Sugar bowl | Un sucrier | (uhn soo-kryay) |
French Tip:
Une ménagère refers to an elegant cutlery set, often gifted for weddings in France.
Conclusion
Congratulations! You’ve just learned over 80 kitchen utensils in French, along with their pronunciation and cultural context. From basic cooking tools like une casserole (saucepan) to special items like un moulin à poivre (pepper mill), you now have the vocabulary to feel confident in any French kitchen.
Start practicing today—label your utensils at home with their French names or try following a French recipe. The more you use these words, the faster you’ll sound like a native. Ready to impress at your next French dinner party? Bon appétit and happy learning!