"La pomme" is the most common and direct way to say "apple" in French. But the world of French is full of delicious nuances, and this simple fruit is no exception.

As you wander through a French marché (market) or read a dessert menu, you might encounter other terms that don't look like "pomme" at all!

Let's bite into 9 different ways to say "apple" in French to make your vocabulary crisp and refreshing!

1. The standard 'apple' – la pomme

The standard word for 'apple' in French is la pomme.

La pomme is the most direct and common translation for the fruit 'apple'. If you learn only one word for a fruit, this is a great one to start with.

In French, nouns have a gender, and pomme is a feminine noun. This affects the articles used with it:

• une pomme: an apple (singular)
• la pomme: the apple (singular)
• des pommes: some apples (plural)
• les pommes: the apples (plural)

You can use la pomme in any situation, whether you're ordering a tarte aux pommes (apple pie) in a fancy restaurant or buying a kilo of apples at the local market. It's universally understood.

Beyond the fruit itself, pomme is a core part of several well-known French idioms. Recognizing them is a key step to sounding more like a native speaker.

A very common expression is tomber dans les pommes, which literally means 'to fall in the apples'. The actual meaning is 'to faint' or 'to pass out'. It's used quite frequently in everyday conversation.

Crucially, do not confuse la pomme with la pomme de terre. This phrase, which translates literally to 'apple of the earth', is the standard French word for 'potato'. Forgetting this can lead to some funny mix-ups at the dinner table!

The phrase haut comme trois pommes (high as three apples) is a charming way to describe a small child, emphasizing their short stature. It's an endearing expression you might hear from parents or grandparents.

💡 * J'ai mangé une pomme rouge ce matin. (I ate a red apple this morning.)

• La tarte aux pommes de ma grand-mère est la meilleure. (My grandmother's apple pie is the best.)
• Quand il a vu l'araignée, il est tombé dans les pommes. (When he saw the spider, he fainted.)
• Nous avons besoin de pommes de terre pour faire des frites. (We need potatoes to make fries.)
• Mon petit neveu est haut comme trois pommes. (My little nephew is very short.)

The 'apple pie' – la tarte aux pommes

When you want to talk about the classic apple pie in French, the direct and most common translation is la tarte aux pommes. This term is universally understood throughout the French-speaking world for this beloved dessert.

Let's break down the phrase: La tarte means 'the pie' or 'the tart.' Aux is a required contraction of à les, meaning 'with the.' Pommes means 'apples.' Literally, it translates to 'the pie with the apples,' a simple and descriptive name.

Unlike the deep-dish American apple pie, the French tarte aux pommes is typically a more elegant, open-faced tart. It often features thinly sliced apples arranged in a decorative pattern over a layer of apple compote (compote de pommes). It's a staple in every pâtisserie (pastry shop) and a common homemade dessert.

It's important not to confuse la tarte aux pommes with other apple-based pastries. A chausson aux pommes is an apple turnover, and a gâteau aux pommes is an apple cake. The most famous variation is the Tarte Tatin, an upside-down tart where the apples are caramelized in butter and sugar before baking.

A slice of tarte aux pommes can be enjoyed on its own, but it's often served lukewarm (tiède). Common accompaniments include a dollop of crème fraîche (a type of thick sour cream) or a scoop of vanilla ice cream (une boule de glace à la vanille).

💡 * Pour le dessert, j'ai commandé une part de tarte aux pommes.

• La tarte aux pommes de ma grand-mère est délicieuse.
• Aimes-tu la tarte aux pommes servie chaude ou froide ?
• Chaque boulangerie en France propose sa propre version de la tarte aux pommes.

The 'apple juice' – le jus de pomme

In French, 'apple juice' is translated quite literally as le jus de pomme.

Let's look at the components: le jus means 'the juice', de means 'of', and pomme means 'apple'. So, you are literally saying 'the juice of (the) apple'. This de construction is very common in French for describing what something is made of.

A key point to remember is that jus is a masculine noun. This is why we use the masculine article le (the) or un (a/an). You would always say un jus de pomme, never une jus de pomme.

The pronunciation is approximately 'luh zhoo duh pom'. Note that the final 's' in jus is silent, which is a common rule in French pronunciation.

You will use this phrase frequently when ordering drinks or shopping. For example, at a café, you would say, 'Je voudrais un jus de pomme, s'il vous plaît' (I would like an apple juice, please).

💡 * Je bois un verre de jus de pomme chaque matin.

• Pour le petit-déjeuner, je prends un jus de pomme.
• Est-ce que ce jus de pomme est frais pressé ?
• Les enfants adorent le jus de pomme avec leurs crêpes.

The 'apple sauce' or 'apple compote' – la compote de pommes

The 'apple sauce' or 'apple compote' – la compote de pommes

La compote de pommes is the French term for what is known as 'apple sauce' or 'apple compote' in English. It refers to a purée of cooked apples, which can be sweetened or unsweetened. In France, it's a common dessert or snack for people of all ages, not just for babies.

The word compote is a feminine noun. Therefore, it is always preceded by feminine articles like la or une. For example, you would say la compote (the apple sauce) or une bonne compote (a good apple sauce).

It is often eaten on its own as a light dessert, served with yogurt, or used as an ingredient in pastries. You'll frequently find it packaged in small, single-serving cups or pouches (gourdes de compote) in French supermarkets, which are very popular as children's snacks (goûter).

💡 * J'aime manger de la compote de pommes après le dîner.

• Pour le goûter, les enfants ont une compote de pommes et un biscuit.
• Tu préfères la compote avec ou sans sucre ajouté ?
• Ma grand-mère fait la meilleure compote de pommes maison.

The 'candy apple' or 'toffee apple' – la pomme d'amour

The French term for a 'candy apple' or 'toffee apple' is la pomme d'amour.

Literally, this translates to 'the apple of love.' This poetic name evokes the romantic and festive atmosphere of the places where they are often sold, like funfairs and festivals.

A pomme d'amour is a whole apple covered in a hard, red sugar candy coating, with a stick inserted as a handle. It's a classic confectionary treat.

You will typically find and talk about pommes d'amour at a fête foraine (funfair), a marché de Noël (Christmas market), or other carnivals and celebrations.

The noun is feminine. Therefore, you always use feminine articles like une pomme d'amour (a candy apple) or la pomme d'amour (the candy apple).

💡 * J'ai envie d'une pomme d'amour bien sucrée. (I'm craving a very sweet candy apple.)

• Les enfants ont les doigts collants à cause des pommes d'amour. (The children have sticky fingers because of the candy apples.)
• On trouve toujours des pommes d'amour à la fête foraine. (You can always find candy apples at the funfair.)
• Regarde cette belle pomme d'amour, elle est si brillante ! (Look at that beautiful candy apple, it's so shiny!)

The 'Adam's apple' – la pomme d'Adam

In French, the term for 'Adam's apple' is a direct and easy-to-remember translation: la pomme d'Adam. This is one of those delightful cases where the French expression mirrors the English one almost perfectly.

The phrase literally breaks down to 'the apple of Adam.' La pomme means 'the apple,' and d'Adam is the possessive form for 'of Adam.' This literal connection makes it simple for English speakers to memorize and understand.

Just like its English counterpart, the origin of la pomme d'Adam is linked to the biblical story of Adam and Eve. The name refers to the piece of the forbidden fruit (traditionally an apple) that is said to have gotten lodged in Adam's throat after he ate it.

A key point for learners: while the Adam's apple is a feature associated with men, the noun pomme (apple) is feminine. Therefore, you must always use the feminine article la, as in la pomme d'Adam. This rule applies whether you're in a casual conversation or a medical context.

💡 * Il a une pomme d'Adam très prononcée. (He has a very prominent Adam's apple.)

• Quand il déglutit, on peut voir sa pomme d'Adam bouger. (When he swallows, you can see his Adam's apple move.)
• La pomme d'Adam est une saillie du cartilage thyroïde. (The Adam's apple is a protrusion of the thyroid cartilage.)
• Chez les garçons, la pomme d'Adam devient plus visible à la puberté. (In boys, the Adam's apple becomes more visible at puberty.)

The 'apple tree' – le pommier

The French word for 'apple tree' is le pommier. It is a masculine noun, which is a key detail for using the correct articles like le or un. You can easily see its connection to the word for the fruit, la pomme (the apple).

French has a common pattern for naming fruit trees. Often, the name of the tree is a masculine noun derived from the feminine noun for the fruit, frequently ending in -ier. For instance, la pomme (the apple) becomes le pommier (the apple tree). This pattern is useful for learning other vocabulary, like la poire (pear) which becomes le poirier (pear tree).

You will use le pommier when discussing the physical tree itself, whether in the context of a garden, an orchard, or a landscape description. It refers specifically to the plant that produces apples.

💡 *Nous avons un vieux pommier dans notre jardin. (We have an old apple tree in our garden.)
*Au printemps, le pommier est couvert de fleurs blanches. (In the spring, the apple tree is covered in white flowers.)
*Les enfants adorent cueillir les pommes directement du pommier. (The children love picking apples directly from the apple tree.)

The 'baked apple' – la pomme au four

The most straightforward and widely used term for 'baked apple' in French is la pomme au four. This phrase literally translates to 'the apple in the oven'.

Let's break down the components: la pomme means 'the apple', and au four means 'in the oven' or 'oven-baked'. The term au is a required contraction of à le (in the/at the), specifying the cooking method.

La pomme au four is a classic and simple dessert in France, especially popular during autumn and winter. It's often prepared by coring the apple and baking it with butter, sugar, and spices like cinnamon.

If you are talking about more than one baked apple, you use the plural form: les pommes au four. Note that only the noun pommes changes to its plural form.

💡 * Pour le dessert, je vais préparer des pommes au four.

• Ma grand-mère fait la meilleure pomme au four avec de la cannelle.
• Aimez-vous la pomme au four servie avec une boule de glace à la vanille?
• C'est un dessert simple : juste une pomme au four.

1. The 'Apple' as a Term of Endearment: Ma Pomme

The French phrase ma pomme literally translates to “my apple.” However, in colloquial French, it's an idiomatic and informal expression used to refer to oneself, similar to saying “me,” “myself,” or “yours truly” in English. It adds a playful and familiar touch to a sentence.

You'll most often hear ma pomme when someone is claiming something for themselves or highlighting that they are the person responsible for or affected by something. It’s a self-referential term, meaning it's almost always used to talk about yourself, not to address someone else directly as a pet name.

This expression is very informal and belongs to everyday, spoken French. Using ma pomme can be humorous, slightly self-deprecating (when talking about a chore), or a bit boastful (when claiming a prize). It is completely inappropriate for formal or professional settings.

💡 * Qui va faire la vaisselle ? Encore ma pomme...
(Who is going to do the dishes? Me again...)

• Toute cette pile de travail, c'est pour ma pomme !
  (All this pile of work is for me!)
• Je me suis offert un petit cadeau, rien que pour ma pomme.
  (I bought myself a little gift, just for yours truly.)
• Il y a une part de gâteau en plus ? C'est pour ma pomme !
  (There's an extra slice of cake? It's for me!)

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

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

Our list features the most common way to say “apple” in French: pomme. While this word is quite standard, you'll find it used in a variety of fascinating expressions and compound words that go beyond the simple fruit.

You can discover these nuances by doing an online search for “expressions avec le mot pomme”. This will introduce you to popular idioms and phrases.

When you encounter a phrase like tomber dans les pommes (to faint), note both its literal and figurative meaning. Understanding the context is key to using these expressions correctly.

Pay attention as you read, watch, and listen to things in French. You might be surprised to find pomme in unexpected places, like in pomme de terre (potato) or the slang term ma pomme (me).

For a comprehensive list of terms and phrases related to apples, the WordReference entry for pomme is an excellent place to start your exploration.

I hope this article was helpful and bore fruit for your French studies. To finish, here is a well-known proverb that works in both languages: Une pomme par jour éloigne le médecin pour toujours. (An apple a day keeps the doctor away.)