What is Chicken in French? A Guide to Translating Poulet and Other Chicken-Related Terms

Chicken can be used in a lot of different classic French dishes. Learning how to say “chicken” in French can help you improve your cooking skills and make it easier to understand menus, recipes, and conversations. In this detailed guide, we’ll look at all the different French words for chicken and words related to chicken.

The Main Word for Chicken in French is “Poulet”

As a general term, “poulet” (poo-LAY) means chicken meat in French, whether it’s a whole chicken, chicken breasts, chicken thighs, or something else.

Some examples sentences using “poulet”:

• J’aime cuisiner du poulet rôti le dimanche (I like cooking roasted chicken on Sundays).

• Nous avons mangé du poulet au curry hier soir. (We ate chicken curry last night).

• Le poulet pané est croustillant. (Breaded chicken is crispy).

Poulet is used widely in French cooking to refer to chicken dishes like poulet à la crème (chicken in cream sauce), poulet sauté (sautéed chicken), and poulet au citron (lemon chicken). It’s the go-to, all-purpose word for chicken.

Other Ways to Say Chicken in French

While poulet is the most common term, French has numerous other ways to refer to chicken meat and chicken dishes:

• Volaille – Refers to poultry in general. Often used in formal cooking contexts.

• Coq – Specifically means a rooster or male chicken.

• Poule – Refers to a hen or female chicken.

• Blanc de poulet – Chicken breast.

• Cuisse de poulet – Chicken thigh.

• Aile de poulet – Chicken wing.

• Poulet de Bresse – A premium chicken breed from the Bresse region of France.

• Poulet fermier – Free-range or farm-raised chicken.

• Poulet rôti – Roast chicken.

• Poulet frit – Fried chicken.

• Poulet au vin – Chicken cooked in wine sauce.

You can talk about chicken dishes, parts, and cooking methods in a lot of different ways in French. You can be very specific with words like “poulet frit” and “poulet au vin.”

Helpful Tips for Using Chicken Vocabulary in French

Here are some tips to help you properly use these chicken-related words and phrases in French:

• Focus on listening to native French speakers say “poulet” to master the pronunciation (poo-LAY).

• Use “poulet” when speaking generally about chicken. It’s the safest, most versatile option.

• When you talk about chicken dishes, put a descriptive word after “poulet,” like “poulet au citron” or “poulet frit.” “.

• For chicken parts, say the part before “poulet” – “cuisse de poulet”, “blanc de poulet.”

• Don’t forget adjectives like “rôti” (roasted) and cooking methods like “sauté” (sautéed) to make your meanings precise.

• Volaille is more formal, best used in sophisticated cooking contexts rather than daily conversation.

With practice, these tips will help you integrate chicken terms seamlessly into your French vocabulary.

Example French Phrases and Sentences Using Chicken Vocabulary

One of the best ways to reinforce new vocabulary is seeing it used in example sentences and phrases. Here are some common French phrases using the various words for chicken:

• Je voudrais commander le poulet rôti s’il vous plaît. (I would like to order the roasted chicken please).

• Est-ce que ce poulet au curry est épicé? (Is this chicken curry spicy?)

• J’adore les cuisses de poulet grillées. (I love grilled chicken thighs).

• Le blanc de poulet était parfaitement cuit. (The chicken breast was perfectly cooked).

• La volaille farcie était le plat principal. (The stuffed poultry was the main dish).

• Ce coq marchait fièrement dans la cour. (This rooster walked proudly in the yard).

• La poule pond un œuf chaque jour. (The hen lays an egg every day).

• Nous avons mangé du poulet frit chez ma grand-mère. (We ate fried chicken at my grandmother’s house).

Immerse yourself in these real-world examples of chicken terms in action. With time, using “poulet” and other chicken words will become second nature.

Regional French Chicken Terms and Dishes to Know

While poulet is standard, French-speaking regions have their own special takes on chicken. Here are some key regional chicken vocabulary words and dishes:

Pouléti (Provence)

In the sunny south of France, you may hear “pouléti”, a regional variant of poulet. This term is common in the Provençal dialect.

Poulet Basquaise (Basque Chicken, Southwest France)

A classic dish from the Basque region is poulet basquaise, which features chicken cooked with bell peppers, tomatoes, garlic, and spices like Espelette pepper.

Poulet Vallée d’Auge (Normandy, Northern France)

In Normandy, poulet Vallée d’Auge is a regional specialty. Chicken is cooked with cream, apples, calvados (apple brandy), and Camembert cheese.

Poulet à la Berrichonne (Berry region)

This Central French dish includes chicken braised in red wine with mushrooms, bacon, onions, and herbs.

By learning key regional dishes, you’ll be ready to order authentic local specialties while traveling in France.

Whether you simply want to order poulet rôti in a French bistro or have an advanced discussion about poulet de Bresse, this guide equips you with the essential French vocabulary for all things chicken. Focus on the versatile term “poulet”, while branching out into precise names for parts, dishes, and cooking methods. Listen to native speakers, practice example sentences, and study up on regional chicken specialties. With this knowledge, you’ll be well on your way to expertise in French chicken terms. Bon appétit!