The most common way to say "meal" in French is le repas. But French culture revolves around its cuisine, and the language reflects this with a rich vocabulary for dining!

As you learn French, you'll discover that one word isn't always enough. Depending on the time of day, the formality, or the size of the meal, there's often a more perfect term to use.

Let's sit down and look at 9 different ways to say "meal" in French, from a quick snack to a grand feast!

1. The standard 'meal' – un repas

The standard 'meal' – un repas

Un repas is the most common and versatile word for 'a meal' in French. It's the perfect general term when you aren't referring to a specific meal like breakfast or dinner.

Repas is a masculine noun, so you'll always see it as un repas (a meal) or le repas (the meal). A key point for learners is that the spelling is identical in the plural form: des repas (meals). The final 's' is always silent.

This word can refer to any meal, at any time of day. Whether you're talking about a grand holiday feast or a simple weekday lunch, repas is the appropriate term.

While repas is the general word, French uses specific terms for daily meals:

• le petit-déjeuner (breakfast)
• le déjeuner (lunch)
• le dîner (dinner) You use repas when speaking generally, for instance: Je prends trois repas par jour (I eat three meals a day).

You will often hear repas used in common phrases like un repas complet (a full-course meal) or the expression sauter un repas (to skip a meal).

In France, le repas is more than just sustenance; it's a cherished social moment. The idea of sitting down and taking time for a meal is a cornerstone of French culture, making this a culturally significant word to know.

💡 * C'était un repas délicieux ! (That was a delicious meal!)

• Je dois préparer le repas pour ce soir. (I have to prepare the meal for tonight.)
• En France, le repas du midi est très important. (In France, the midday meal is very important.)
• Nous avons partagé un bon repas entre amis. (We shared a good meal among friends.)

The 'dish' or 'course' of a meal – un plat

The French word for a 'dish' or 'course' of a meal is un plat.

Un plat refers to a specific dish served during a meal. It can be an appetizer, a main course, or even a dessert, though it's most commonly associated with the main part of the meal, also known as the plat principal.

It's important not to confuse un plat (the food/dish) with une assiette (the physical plate you eat from). While you eat a plat from an assiette, they are not the same thing. Think of un plat as the culinary creation itself.

You will very frequently see un plat used in the phrase le plat principal, which literally means 'the main dish' or 'main course.' This is the heart of a traditional French meal, following the starter (l'entrée) and preceding cheese or dessert.

Another common and essential phrase you'll see on menus across France is le plat du jour, which means 'the dish of the day.' This is the special a restaurant offers, often highlighting fresh, seasonal ingredients at a good price.

In its plural form, les plats can refer to the dishes or cuisine of a particular region or type, such as les plats français (French dishes) or les plats épicés (spicy dishes). It speaks to the style of cooking in general.

💡 * Quel est le plat du jour ? (What is the dish of the day?)

• Pour le plat principal, je vais prendre le poisson. (For the main course, I'll have the fish.)
• C'est un plat très simple à préparer. (It's a very simple dish to prepare.)
• Ce restaurant est connu pour ses plats traditionnels. (This restaurant is known for its traditional dishes.)

The 'feast' or 'banquet' – un festin

When a simple repas (meal) just won't do, French offers a more grandiose term: un festin. This word elevates the concept of a meal to something truly special.

Un festin directly translates to a 'feast' or 'banquet.' It describes a large, sumptuous, and often celebratory meal that is magnificent and abundant. Think of a wedding meal, a royal banquet, or a lavish holiday spread.

The word implies more than just a lot of food; it carries a strong connotation of celebration, joy, and exceptional quality. You wouldn't call a regular big dinner un festin; it's reserved for truly memorable and grand occasions.

Like its English counterpart, un festin can also be used figuratively to describe a delightful and abundant sensory experience. For instance, an art lover might describe a museum visit as un festin pour les yeux (a feast for the eyes).

The associated verb is festoyer, which means 'to feast' or 'to revel.' It captures the act of enjoying a feast. For example: 'Les invités ont festoyé toute la nuit' (The guests feasted all night).

💡 * Pour le réveillon de Noël, ma grand-mère prépare toujours un véritable festin.

• Le buffet du mariage était un festin de saveurs et de couleurs.
• Le roi organisa un grand festin pour célébrer sa victoire.
• Cette exposition de peinture est un festin pour les yeux.

The 'snack' or 'light meal' – un casse-croûte

For a quick, simple meal that's more substantial than a small snack but less formal than a full repas (meal), the French use the term un casse-croûte.

Literally translating to 'break-crust,' the term casse-croûte perfectly captures the idea of breaking a piece of bread (like the crust of a baguette) for a simple, informal bite. It often implies a sandwich or something similarly easy to prepare and eat.

You would use un casse-croûte to describe a packed lunch, a snack for a hike, or a quick bite during a work break. It's distinct from le goûter, which is the afternoon snack typically enjoyed by children and often sweet.

While heavily associated with sandwiches (un sandwich), a casse-croûte can also consist of other simple items like a piece of cheese, some fruit, a sausage (saucisson), or a hard-boiled egg.

💡 * J'ai préparé un casse-croûte pour notre randonnée. (I prepared a snack for our hike.)

• On s'arrête sur l'aire d'autoroute pour un casse-croûte. (We're stopping at the rest area for a quick meal.)
• Mon casse-croûte du midi, c'est souvent un sandwich et une pomme. (My lunch snack is often a sandwich and an apple.)
• Il n'a pas le temps de déjeuner, il prend juste un casse-croûte. (He doesn't have time for lunch, he's just grabbing a quick bite.)

The 'lunch' – le déjeuner

The 'lunch' – le déjeuner

Le déjeuner is the standard French word for 'lunch,' referring to the midday meal. It is used universally across all regions and levels of formality.

In France, le déjeuner is traditionally a substantial, often multi-course meal, and it holds more cultural importance than a quick midday snack might in other countries. The lunch break (la pause déjeuner) is a cherished part of the day.

The noun also serves as a verb, déjeuner, which means 'to have lunch.' For example, you would say, 'Je déjeune à midi' (I have lunch at noon).

Don't confuse le déjeuner with le petit-déjeuner, which means 'breakfast.' The prefix 'petit' (small) is the key to telling them apart.

💡 * À quelle heure on déjeune ? (What time are we having lunch?)

• Le déjeuner est prêt ! (Lunch is ready!)
• J'ai un déjeuner d'affaires important demain. (I have an important business lunch tomorrow.)
• Pour le déjeuner, je prends souvent une salade. (For lunch, I often have a salad.)

The 'dinner' – le dîner

In French, the word for 'dinner' is le dîner. As a masculine noun, it is always preceded by articles like le or un. This term refers to the main meal eaten in the evening.

Culturally, le dîner in France is often the most substantial meal of the day, typically served later than in many English-speaking countries, usually between 7:30 PM and 9:00 PM. It is a key social moment for families and friends to gather and converse, often lasting for a couple of hours, especially with guests.

The corresponding verb is dîner, which means 'to have dinner' or 'to dine'. It is a regular first-group verb (ending in -er), which makes it straightforward to conjugate. For example, 'Nous dînons en famille' means 'We are having dinner as a family'.

You'll frequently encounter le dîner in everyday questions and invitations. A common question is, 'Qu'est-ce qu'on mange pour le dîner ?' ('What are we eating for dinner?'). A classic invitation is, 'Je vous invite à dîner chez moi samedi soir.' ('I'm inviting you to have dinner at my place on Saturday evening').

Be careful not to confuse le dîner with le déjeuner, which means 'lunch'. The former is the evening meal, while the latter is the midday meal. This is a common point of confusion for learners, as déjeuner looks similar to the old-fashioned English word 'dinner' which sometimes referred to the midday meal.

💡 * Le dîner est servi à 20 heures.

• Nous allons dîner au restaurant ce soir pour fêter ça.
• J'ai préparé un dîner romantique pour nous deux.
• Qu'est-ce que tu as mangé pour le dîner hier soir ?

The 'breakfast' – le petit-déjeuner

In French, the word for 'breakfast' is le petit-déjeuner. This literally translates to 'the little lunch.' The term for 'to have breakfast' is the verb phrase prendre le petit-déjeuner.

The word is a combination of petit (small) and déjeuner (lunch). While déjeuner means lunch in modern French, historically it meant 'to break the fast.' Thus, petit-déjeuner is the 'little' break-fast meal of the day.

Le petit-déjeuner is a masculine noun, so it always uses the article le or un. It's a fundamental vocabulary word for discussing daily routines, food, and making plans in French.

💡 * Je prends mon petit-déjeuner à 7 heures tous les matins. (I have my breakfast at 7 a.m. every morning.)

• Pour le petit-déjeuner, les Français mangent souvent des tartines. (For breakfast, French people often eat tartines.)
• Qu'est-ce que tu veux pour le petit-déjeuner ? (What do you want for breakfast?)
• Le service du petit-déjeuner à l'hôtel se termine à 10h. (The breakfast service at the hotel ends at 10 a.m.)

The 'supper' or late evening meal – le souper

The 'supper' or late evening meal – le souper

The word le souper translates to 'supper' and traditionally refers to a light meal eaten late in the evening, often after an event like a theater show or a party.

Historically, le souper was the main evening meal. Today, its usage varies. In some French-speaking regions like Quebec, Switzerland, and Belgium, le souper is still the common term for the evening meal, while le dîner refers to the midday meal (lunch).

In modern metropolitan France, however, le dîner has largely replaced le souper as the term for the main evening meal. Le souper is now more often used to describe a very late, often informal, meal eaten after the main dinner.

💡 * Après le spectacle, on va prendre un petit souper. (After the show, we're going to have a little supper.)

• Au Québec, le repas du soir s'appelle le souper. (In Quebec, the evening meal is called supper.)
• Le souper est servi à 19h chez mes grands-parents. (Supper is served at 7 p.m. at my grandparents' house.)

1. The Slang for 'Food' or 'Grub': La Bouffe

While the standard French word for 'food' is la nourriture, a very common and informal term you'll hear in everyday conversation is la bouffe. This is the direct French equivalent of slang like 'grub' or 'chow.' It's a casual noun used constantly among friends and family.

Directly related to la bouffe is the verb bouffer, which is the slang equivalent of 'to eat' (manger). Think of it as meaning 'to chow down' or 'to grub.' It's used in the same informal contexts as its noun counterpart.

Both la bouffe and bouffer are strictly informal. They are perfect for relaxed, everyday situations but should be avoided in formal settings, like a business dinner or a fine dining restaurant. In more formal contexts, always stick with the standard terms la nourriture (food) and manger (to eat).

💡 * Qu'est-ce qu'on bouffe ce soir ? (What are we eating/grubbing on tonight?)

• J'ai la dalle, il faut qu'on trouve de la bouffe. (I'm starving, we need to find some grub.)
• La bouffe à la cantine n'est pas terrible. (The food in the cafeteria isn't great.)
• Arrête de bouffer si vite, tu vas t'étouffer ! (Stop scarfing down your food so fast, you're going to choke!)

Are there other ways to say 'meal' in French?

Are there other ways to say “meal” in French?

Our list features the most common and essential words for “meal” in French. But just like French cuisine itself, the language is full of flavor and variety. You'll find many other terms, from old-fashioned words to specific culinary jargon.

You can expand your vocabulary by doing an online search for “menu du jour en France” or “spécialités culinaires” followed by the name of a French-speaking region to see how meals are described locally.

When you encounter a new word for a meal, always check the context. Is it for a quick snack (casse-croûte), a formal feast (festin), or a light bite (grignotage)? Context is the key ingredient to using these words correctly.

Pay attention as you watch French cooking shows, read recipes, or browse menus from French restaurants. This is a delicious way to discover new vocabulary and immerse yourself in the culture of French dining.

If you're hungry for more words related to food, dining, and different types of meals, the Larousse dictionary entry for repas is a fantastic place to explore.

I hope this article has satisfied your curiosity. To finish, here is a classic French proverb that perfectly captures the spirit of both food and learning: L'appétit vient en mangeant. (Appetite comes with eating.) The more you learn, the hungrier for knowledge you'll become. Bon appétit!