👉 See also: Action de grâce (Thanksgiving) Word of the day lesson »
Lesson written by French teacher David Issokson for students who want to learn French online, with native audio by Marie Assel Cambier, a voice artist from France.
L’Action de Grâce (Thanksgiving) is a major holiday celebrated throughout North America. While it’s not celebrated in France, it is celebrated in Canada. On this page you’ll learn lots of French Thanksgiving vocabulary. Keep reading.
L’Action de Grâce
Thanksgiving
French Thanksgiving vocabulary
In French, there are two words for turkey: le dindon and la dinde. Le dindon is used to refer to a live turkey and la dinde is used to refer to the meat that is eaten on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
la dinde
turkey
Interestingly, the word “farce” (meaning practical joke) is the same in English and French: la farce. But, la farce in French also means stuffing.
la farce
stuffing
The single most popular Thanksgiving dessert is pumpkin pie. The word for pumpkin in French is la citrouille. Hence, pumpkin pie is la tarte à la citrouille.
la tarte à la citrouille
pumpkin pie
In French, the word for cranberry is la canneberge. According to this page on WordReference, the English word “cranberry” is used as an anglicism in Europe. Cranberry sauce in French is la sauce de canneberge.
la sauce de canneberge
cranberry sauce
Historically, there were two main groups in the first Thanksgiving: les pèlerins (pilgrims) and les Amérindiens (Native Americans).
les pèlerins
pilgrims
les Amérindiens
Native Americans
Main dishes
- la dinde turkey
- la farce stuffing
- la purée mashed potatoes
- la sauce au jus de viande gravy
- le jambon ham
- le chevreuil venison
Side dishes
- la courge (f) squash
- la sauce de canneberge cranberry sauce
- le pain de maïs corn bread
- le petit pain roll
- le ragoût aux haricots verts green bean casserole
- les feuilles de chou cavalier collard greens
- les ignames (f) yams
- les pâtes au fromage macaroni and cheese
Dessert
- la tarte à la citrouille pumpkin pie
- la tarte à la noix de pécan pecan pie
- la tarte à la patate douce sweet potato pie
- la tarte aux cerises cherry pie
- la tarte aux pommes apple pie
- la tartelette fourrée de fruits secs mince pie
Historical terms
- la Nouvelle-Angleterre New England
- la récolte harvest
- la tribu Wampanoag Wampanoag Tribe
- le Nouveau Monde the New World
- les Amérindiens Native Americans
- les colonies (f) colonies
- les colons (m) Colonists
- les pèlerins (m) pilgrims
- les Puritains Puritans
- un pacte treaty
More Thanksgiving vocabulary
- l’automne (m) autumn, fall
- la circulation traffic
- la famille family
- la reconnaissance, gratitude gratitude
- le défilé parade
- le dernier jeudi de novembre the last Thursday of November
- les fêtes de fin d’année holiday season
- les feuilles d’automne autumn leaves
- un match de football américain football game
- une citrouille, un potiron pumpkin
- une réunion de famille a family gathering
Thanksgiving verbs
- bien manger, festoyer to feast, have a good meal
- découper la dinde to carve the turkey
- être reconnaissant to be grateful
- faire le pont to take a long weekend
- partager to share
- réunir la famille to unite the family
Related lessons
- Joyeux Noël – Merry Christmas
- Christmas in France
- Halloween vocabulary
- Christmas vocabulary
- Valentine’s Day In France
- Bastille Day – The 14th of July
- Poisson d’Avril – April Fool’s Day
- Food vocabulary
French Thanksgiving Vocabulary — FAQ
Clear answers to the most common questions about French Thanksgiving vocabulary, including how to say Thanksgiving in French, whether it’s celebrated in France, and the correct words for turkey, stuffing, and other holiday foods.
How do you say Thanksgiving in French?
Thanksgiving in French is called “l’Action de grâce.”
Do the French celebrate Thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving is not celebrated in France, but it is observed in Canada.
How do you say turkey in French?
A live turkey is “le dindon,” and turkey meat is “la dinde.”
French vocabulary | Word of the day | Lessons by David Issokson
