Learning French
Hungry, peckish, stuffed: 11 French phrases to do with food and eating
These phrases help to talk about one of the most important subjects in France - food
From having 'a small hollow' to eating 'like an ogre' - explore some popular French food phrases
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1/ Avoir un petit creux (literally: to have a small hollow)
This means that a part of your stomach is empty. The expression is generally used when you crave a little something to tide you over until tucking into a proper meal.
2/ Se régaler (to enjoy the meal)
You can say ‘c’est un régal’ about a meal that is particularly delicious but also say ‘je me régale’ meaning you are really enjoying the meal.
3/ Être repu / rassasié (to be sated)
This means that you have eaten enough and that you are full.
4/ Manger comme un ogre (to eat like an ogre)
To eat a lot. An ogre is known to be large and fat, and to eat a lot.
5/ À ravir les papilles (to please the taste buds)
If a meal is ‘à ravir les papilles’, it is a delight.
6/ Avoir la peau du ventre bien tendue (literally to have tight belly skin)
This means that you have eaten very well and your belly is full.
7/ Avoir les crocs / la dalle (to have the fangs / the throat)
To be starving. These are recent and colloquial expressions but it is said that ‘avoir la dalle’ comes from the fact dalle used to refer to the throat.
In the 14th Century the expression ‘avoir la dalle en pente’ (to have a sloping or inclined throat) meant to drink often and a lot of alcohol.
In the 19th Century ‘avoir la dalle’ meant to have a big appetite. Today it means to be very hungry.
8/ Se goinfrer (to stuff yourself with food, to stuff your face)
This means to eat food quickly and lots of it.
9/ À la bonne franquette (without ceremony)
This expression is used to speak about a simple, informal meal.
10/ Un cordon bleu (literally: a blue cord)
You can say that someone is a cordon bleu when he/she cooks very well.
Cordon Bleu used to be the highest distinction in France before being replaced by the Légion d’honneur. This expression was thus a shortcut to speak about the most gifted person in a field.
11/ Qui dort dine (the one who sleeps has dinner)
This means that if you sleep, you will not be hungry. Sleeping makes you forget about the food.
