How To Say Eggplant In French

Eggplants are a delicious and healthy vegetable used in many tasty recipes. If you’re learning French, you might wonder how to say “eggplant” in this language. Knowing the name of your favorite vegetables can help when shopping, cooking, or even reading a French menu.

In this article, we’ll teach you how to say “eggplant” in French. You’ll also learn other ways to refer to it, common responses to the word, and practice exercises to make it stick. By the end, you’ll feel ready to use this word in any conversation or situation.

Ways to Say “Eggplant” in French

There are several ways to say “eggplant” in French, depending on the context or region. The most common term is “aubergine,” which is used in everyday conversation and recipes. Other expressions might be more regional or formal. Let’s explore these terms and how to use them in sentences.

1. Aubergine

Pronunciation: oh-bair-zheen
Meaning: Eggplant (general term).
In a Sentence:

J’ai acheté une aubergine pour faire une ratatouille. (I bought an eggplant to make ratatouille.)
L’aubergine est un ingrédient principal dans ce plat. (Eggplant is a main ingredient in this dish.)

2. Melanzane (Regional Term)

Pronunciation: mel-ahn-zahn
Meaning: Eggplant, used in some French-speaking areas influenced by Italian.
In a Sentence:

Ce restaurant propose des melanzane grillées. (This restaurant offers grilled eggplant.)
Les melanzane farcies sont délicieuses. (Stuffed eggplants are delicious.)

3. Brinjal (Historical or Regional Term)

Pronunciation: brin-jahl
Meaning: Another name for eggplant, less commonly used in modern French.
In a Sentence:

Le curry contient du brinjal et des épices. (The curry contains eggplant and spices.)
J’ai entendu dire qu’ils appellent l’aubergine “brinjal” ailleurs. (I heard they call eggplant “brinjal” elsewhere.)

4. Éggplant (Anglicism)

Pronunciation: egg-plant
Meaning: The English word for eggplant, sometimes used in French when borrowing English culinary terms.
In a Sentence:

Le chef a utilisé l’éggplant pour décorer l’assiette. (The chef used eggplant to decorate the plate.)
Certains disent “éggplant” à la place d’aubergine. (Some say “eggplant” instead of aubergine.)

5. Nightshade (Botanical Term)

Pronunciation: nayt-shayd
Meaning: Refers to eggplant as part of the nightshade family.
In a Sentence:

L’aubergine appartient à la famille des nightshades. (Eggplant belongs to the nightshade family.)
Les nightshades incluent aussi les tomates et les poivrons. (Nightshades also include tomatoes and peppers.)

6. Solanum Melongena (Scientific Name)

Pronunciation: soh-lah-num meh-lohn-geh-nah
Meaning: The scientific name for the eggplant.
In a Sentence:

Le solanum melongena est cultivé dans de nombreuses régions. (The eggplant is grown in many regions.)
Cette plante, appelée solanum melongena, est utilisée en cuisine. (This plant, called eggplant, is used in cooking.)

7. Fruit Violet (Descriptive Term)

Pronunciation: froo-vee-oh-lay
Meaning: A poetic way to describe the purple fruit of the eggplant.
In a Sentence:

Le fruit violet de l’aubergine est magnifique. (The purple fruit of the eggplant is beautiful.)
Vous avez vu ce grand fruit violet au marché? (Did you see that large purple fruit at the market?)

8. Courge Aubergine (Informal Term)

Pronunciation: koorzh oh-bair-zheen
Meaning: A mix of terms, sometimes used informally to describe the shape of the eggplant.
In a Sentence:

Cette courge aubergine est parfaite pour ma recette. (This eggplant squash is perfect for my recipe.)
On dirait une courge aubergine, mais c’est plus doux. (It looks like an eggplant squash, but it’s milder.)

9. Patlican (Turkish Influence)

Pronunciation: pah-tlee-jahn
Meaning: Borrowed from Turkish; used in certain culinary contexts.
In a Sentence:

Essayons cette recette avec du patlican rôti. (Let’s try this recipe with roasted eggplant.)
Le mot “patlican” est utilisé dans plusieurs cuisines. (The word “patlican” is used in several cuisines.)

10. Légume Pourpre (Descriptive Term)

Pronunciation: lay-goom poor-pruh
Meaning: Purple vegetable.
In a Sentence:

Ce légume pourpre est très nutritif. (This purple vegetable is very nutritious.)
Les enfants adorent les plats colorés avec du légume pourpre. (Kids love colorful dishes with purple vegetables.)

11. Baie Comestible (Scientific Descriptor)

Pronunciation: bay koh-may-steebl
Meaning: Edible berry, referring to the botanical classification of eggplant.
In a Sentence:

L’aubergine est en réalité une baie comestible. (Eggplant is actually an edible berry.)
Les baies comestibles comme l’aubergine sont fascinantes. (Edible berries like eggplants are fascinating.)

12. Violette des Tropiques (Poetic Term)

Pronunciation: vee-oh-let day tro-pee-k
Meaning: Violet of the tropics, a poetic reference.
In a Sentence:

La violette des tropiques pousse bien sous le soleil. (The violet of the tropics grows well in the sun.)
Cette violette des tropiques embellit le jardin. (This violet of the tropics enhances the garden.)

13. Légume d’Asie (Cultural Term)

Pronunciation: lay-goom dah-zee
Meaning: Asian vegetable, referencing its origin.
In a Sentence:

Le légume d’Asie est très populaire en cuisine française. (The Asian vegetable is very popular in French cooking.)
J’adore inclure ce légume d’Asie dans mes plats. (I love including this Asian vegetable in my dishes.)

14. Viande des Pauvres (Historical Reference)

Pronunciation: vee-ahnd day povr
Meaning: Meat of the poor, an old term referencing its nutritional value.
In a Sentence:

L’aubergine était appelée “viande des pauvres” autrefois. (Eggplant was once called the “meat of the poor.”)
Elle est riche en nutriments, cette “viande des pauvres.” (It’s rich in nutrients, this “meat of the poor.”)

15. Plante Solanacée (Scientific Term)

Pronunciation: plahnt soh-lah-nah-say
Meaning: Solanaceous plant, referring to its family.
In a Sentence:

L’aubergine est une plante solanacée comme la tomate. (Eggplant is a solanaceous plant like the tomato.)
La plante solanacée a besoin de beaucoup de soleil. (The solanaceous plant needs lots of sunlight.)

16. Poire d’Amour (Romantic Term)

Pronunciation: pwahr dah-moor
Meaning: Love pear, a romantic nickname for eggplant.
In a Sentence:

Cette poire d’amour est un délice grillée. (This love pear is a delight when grilled.)
On l’appelle parfois la poire d’amour à cause de sa forme. (It’s sometimes called the love pear because of its shape.)

17. Légume à Chair (Descriptive Term)

Pronunciation: lay-goom ah shair
Meaning: Vegetable with flesh, referencing its texture.
In a Sentence:

Le légume à chair est parfait pour les gratins. (The vegetable with flesh is perfect for casseroles.)
J’aime le goût du légume à chair dans les plats mijotés. (I love the taste of the vegetable with flesh in stews.)

18. Plante Potagère (Gardening Term)

Pronunciation: plahnt poh-tah-zhair
Meaning: Vegetable garden plant.
In a Sentence:

La plante potagère d’aubergine pousse facilement. (The eggplant vegetable plant grows easily.)
Ajoutez cette plante potagère à votre jardin. (Add this vegetable garden plant to your garden.)

19. Légume Bénin (Cultural Descriptor)

Pronunciation: lay-goom bay-nan
Meaning: Mild vegetable.
In a Sentence:

Le légume bénin est idéal pour les plats épicés. (The mild vegetable is ideal for spicy dishes.)
Essayez le légume bénin dans votre prochaine soupe. (Try the mild vegetable in your next soup.)

20. Légume Tropical (General Term)

Pronunciation: lay-goom troh-pee-kal
Meaning: Tropical vegetable.
In a Sentence:

Ce légume tropical est populaire dans les cuisines méditerranéennes. (This tropical vegetable is popular in Mediterranean cuisines.)
Cultivez un légume tropical pour diversifier vos récoltes. (Grow a tropical vegetable to diversify your crops.)

21. Aubergine Violette (Descriptive Term)

Pronunciation: oh-bair-zheen vee-oh-let
Meaning: Purple eggplant, specifying the common variety.
In a Sentence:

L’aubergine violette est utilisée dans de nombreuses recettes. (The purple eggplant is used in many recipes.)
J’ai acheté une aubergine violette au marché fermier. (I bought a purple eggplant at the farmer’s market.)

22. Belle Nuit (Poetic Term)

Pronunciation: bel nwee
Meaning: Beautiful night, a poetic reference to the nightshade family.
In a Sentence:

La belle nuit est une plante fascinante à observer. (The beautiful night is a fascinating plant to observe.)
Cette belle nuit pousse bien sous le climat tropical. (This beautiful night grows well in tropical climates.)

23. Solanum (Scientific Root)

Pronunciation: soh-lah-num
Meaning: Refers to the plant genus that includes eggplant.
In a Sentence:

Le solanum est cultivé pour sa valeur nutritionnelle. (The solanum is grown for its nutritional value.)
Les variétés de solanum sont nombreuses dans le monde. (The varieties of solanum are numerous worldwide.)

24. Légume Ovale (Descriptive Term)

Pronunciation: lay-goom oh-vahl
Meaning: Oval vegetable, describing the typical shape of eggplants.
In a Sentence:

Ce légume ovale est parfait pour les grillades. (This oval vegetable is perfect for grilling.)
Les enfants aiment la forme unique du légume ovale. (Kids love the unique shape of the oval vegetable.)

25. Aubergine Blanche (Variety Name)

Pronunciation: oh-bair-zheen blahnsh
Meaning: White eggplant, referring to a specific variety.
In a Sentence:

L’aubergine blanche a un goût légèrement sucré. (The white eggplant has a slightly sweet taste.)
Cette recette demande une aubergine blanche pour plus de douceur. (This recipe calls for a white eggplant for extra mildness.)

Other Ways to Say “Eggplant” in French

Here is a table listing alternative ways to say “eggplant” in French. Each entry includes the pronunciation, meaning, and an example sentence to help you understand and use the terms correctly.

Other Ways to Say	Pronunciation	Meaning	Example Sentences
Aubergine Noire	oh-bair-zheen nwahr	Black eggplant, a common variety	J’ai acheté une aubergine noire pour le dîner. (I bought a black eggplant for dinner.)
Légume d’Orient	lay-goom doh-ree-ahn	Oriental vegetable	Ce légume d’Orient est apprécié dans les plats asiatiques. (This oriental vegetable is loved in Asian dishes.)
Baie Tropicale	bay troh-pee-kal	Tropical berry	La baie tropicale est riche en antioxydants. (The tropical berry is rich in antioxidants.)
Plante Violette	plahnt vee-oh-let	Purple plant	La plante violette est belle dans le jardin. (The purple plant looks beautiful in the garden.)
Solanacée Comestible	soh-lah-nah-say	Edible solanaceous plant	Les solanacées comestibles incluent l’aubergine. (Edible solanaceous plants include the eggplant.)
Fruit Ovale	froo oh-vahl	Oval fruit	Ce fruit ovale est parfait pour les ragoûts. (This oval fruit is perfect for stews.)
Plante Vivace	plahnt vee-vahss	Perennial plant	Cette plante vivace produit des fruits chaque année. (This perennial plant bears fruit every year.)
Légume Charnu	lay-goom shar-noo	Fleshy vegetable	Le légume charnu est délicieux au four. (The fleshy vegetable is delicious when baked.)
Poire Pourpre	pwahr poor-pruh	Purple pear	La poire pourpre est utilisée dans de nombreuses recettes. (The purple pear is used in many recipes.)
Belle de Nuit	bel duh nwee	Beauty of the night	La belle de nuit a besoin de beaucoup de soleil. (The beauty of the night needs lots of sunlight.)
Plante Alimentaire	plahnt ah-lee-mon-tair	Food plant	Cette plante alimentaire est très populaire dans la cuisine méditerranéenne. (This food plant is very popular in Mediterranean cooking.)
Légume Exotique	lay-goom egz-oh-teek	Exotic vegetable	Le légume exotique apporte une saveur unique au plat. (The exotic vegetable adds a unique flavor to the dish.)
Baie Violette	bay vee-oh-let	Purple berry	La baie violette est souvent utilisée en cuisine. (The purple berry is often used in cooking.)
Solanum Noir	soh-lah-num nwahr	Black solanum	Le solanum noir pousse bien dans les climats chauds. (The black solanum grows well in warm climates.)
Courge Longue	koorzh lohn-guh	Long squash	La courge longue ressemble à une aubergine. (The long squash looks like an eggplant.)
Plante d’Asie	plahnt dah-zee	Asian plant	La plante d’Asie est cultivée dans les régions tropicales. (The Asian plant is grown in tropical regions.)
Légume Méditerranéen	lay-goom meh-dee-tay-rahn-ay	Mediterranean vegetable	Ce légume méditerranéen est parfait pour les plats d’été. (This Mediterranean vegetable is perfect for summer dishes.)
Solanum Aubergine	soh-lah-num oh-bair-zheen	Solanum eggplant	Le solanum aubergine est une variété populaire. (The solanum eggplant is a popular variety.)
Baie Alimentaire	bay ah-lee-mon-tair	Edible berry	La baie alimentaire est pleine de vitamines. (The edible berry is full of vitamins.)
Plante Cultivée	plahnt kool-tee-vay	Cultivated plant	La plante cultivée est récoltée à maturité. (The cultivated plant is harvested when ripe.)

Response to “Eggplant” in French

When someone mentions “eggplant” (aubergine) in a conversation, there are many polite and natural ways to respond in French. These responses can express agreement, interest, or even preferences about this versatile vegetable. Below are some common ways to reply when discussing eggplants in French.

1. J’adore les aubergines!

Pronunciation: zhah-dohr lay oh-bair-zheen
Meaning: I love eggplants!
In a Sentence:

Person 1: J’ai acheté des aubergines pour le dîner. (I bought eggplants for dinner.)
Person 2: J’adore les aubergines! (I love eggplants!)

2. Elles sont délicieuses.

Pronunciation: ell sohn day-lee-syuhz
Meaning: They are delicious.
In a Sentence:

Person 1: Que penses-tu des aubergines? (What do you think about eggplants?)
Person 2: Elles sont délicieuses. (They are delicious.)

3. Je préfère les griller.

Pronunciation: juh pray-fehr lay gree-yay
Meaning: I prefer to grill them.
In a Sentence:

Person 1: Comment aimes-tu cuisiner les aubergines? (How do you like to cook eggplants?)
Person 2: Je préfère les griller. (I prefer to grill them.)

4. Tu les cuisines souvent?

Pronunciation: too lay kwee-zeen soh-vahn
Meaning: Do you cook them often?
In a Sentence:

Person 1: J’ai acheté des aubergines au marché. (I bought eggplants at the market.)
Person 2: Tu les cuisines souvent? (Do you cook them often?)

5. Ce légume est très polyvalent.

Pronunciation: suh lay-goom eh tray poh-lee-vah-lon
Meaning: This vegetable is very versatile.
In a Sentence:

Person 1: Les aubergines sont bonnes en curry. (Eggplants are great in curry.)
Person 2: Ce légume est très polyvalent. (This vegetable is very versatile.)

6. Avec un peu de sel, c’est parfait.

Pronunciation: ah-vek uh puh duh sell, say par-fay
Meaning: With a bit of salt, it’s perfect.
In a Sentence:

Person 1: Que rajoutes-tu sur les aubergines? (What do you add to eggplants?)
Person 2: Avec un peu de sel, c’est parfait. (With a bit of salt, it’s perfect.)

7. Ce n’est pas mon légume préféré.

Pronunciation: suh nay pah mohn lay-goom pray-fay-ray
Meaning: It’s not my favorite vegetable.
In a Sentence:

Person 1: J’adore les aubergines. (I love eggplants.)
Person 2: Ce n’est pas mon légume préféré. (It’s not my favorite vegetable.)

8. Les enfants les adorent grillées.

Pronunciation: lay zon-fahn lay zah-dohr gree-yay
Meaning: Kids love them grilled.
In a Sentence:

Person 1: Comment cuisines-tu les aubergines pour ta famille? (How do you cook eggplants for your family?)
Person 2: Les enfants les adorent grillées. (Kids love them grilled.)

9. Elles sont meilleures avec des épices.

Pronunciation: ell sohn may-yuhrz ah-vek dayz ay-peess
Meaning: They are better with spices.
In a Sentence:

Person 1: Je trouve les aubergines un peu fades. (I find eggplants a bit bland.)
Person 2: Elles sont meilleures avec des épices. (They are better with spices.)

10. L’aubergine au parmesan, c’est délicieux.

Pronunciation: loh-bair-zheen oh par-may-zahn, say day-lee-syuh
Meaning: Eggplant Parmesan is delicious.
In a Sentence:

Person 1: As-tu déjà mangé de l’aubergine au parmesan? (Have you ever had Eggplant Parmesan?)
Person 2: L’aubergine au parmesan, c’est délicieux. (Eggplant Parmesan is delicious.)

Exercise to Practice “Eggplant” in French

Here is a fun fill-in-the-blanks exercise to help you practice the different ways to say “eggplant” and related expressions in French. The sentences are written in French, followed by their English meanings.

Fill in the Blanks

J’adore cuisiner des _______ au four pour le dîner.
Le curry avec des _______ est très populaire en Inde.
Ma grand-mère cultive des _______ violettes dans son jardin.
Les _______ sont délicieuses quand elles sont grillées.
On appelle parfois l’aubergine la _______ des tropiques.
Cette recette demande une _______ blanche pour un goût plus doux.
Je préfère manger des _______ avec un peu de sel et d’huile d’olive.
Connaissez-vous le terme “_______” pour dire aubergine?
Les enfants aiment le goût sucré des _______ asiatiques.
J’ai acheté une _______ noire pour préparer une ratatouille.
Cette _______ ovale est parfaite pour un plat mijoté.
En botanique, l’aubergine est classée comme une _______ comestible.

Answers

aubergines (I love cooking eggplants in the oven for dinner.)
aubergines (Curry with eggplants is very popular in India.)
aubergines (My grandmother grows purple eggplants in her garden.)
aubergines (Eggplants are delicious when grilled.)
violette (They sometimes call eggplant the violet of the tropics.)
aubergine (This recipe calls for a white eggplant for a milder taste.)
aubergines (I prefer eating eggplants with a bit of salt and olive oil.)
patlican (Do you know the term “patlican” for saying eggplant?)
aubergines (Kids love the sweet taste of Asian eggplants.)
aubergine (I bought a black eggplant to prepare ratatouille.)
aubergine (This oval eggplant is perfect for a stewed dish.)
baie (In botany, eggplant is classified as an edible berry.)

Conclusion

Learning how to say “eggplant” in French and practicing its various forms can be very helpful, especially when cooking, shopping, or dining in a French-speaking environment. From the common “aubergine” to descriptive and regional terms, you now have many ways to use this word in conversation.

By using the examples, responses, and exercises provided, you’ll gain confidence in discussing this versatile vegetable in French. Keep practicing and experimenting with different phrases, and soon you’ll feel at ease incorporating “eggplant” into your everyday French vocabulary. Bon courage!