When you think of the word for 'banana' in French, one word probably comes to mind: banane. And you'd be right! That's the most common and straightforward way to say it.

But the French language, with its rich diversity across the globe, offers more than just one way to talk about this beloved yellow fruit. Depending on where you are or the context of the conversation, you might hear some surprising alternatives.

Ready to go beyond the basics and add some flavor to your vocabulary? Let's dive into 9 different and interesting ways to say 'banana' in French!

1. The standard 'banana' – une banane

The most common and straightforward word for 'banana' in French is une banane. It's the word you'll hear and use in virtually every situation.

Crucially, banane is a feminine noun in French. This means you must always use a feminine article with it, such as une (a/an) or la (the). Remembering the gender of nouns is a key step to fluency, so lock this one in: c'est une banane.

To talk about more than one banana, you simply add an 's' to the end, just as in English. The plural form becomes les bananes (the bananas) or des bananes (some bananas).

This word is universal and can be used in any context, whether you're at a fancy restaurant or a local fruit stand. There are no common slang or alternative words for 'banana' that you need to learn.

Interestingly, 'banane' is also part of a popular French idiom. The expression avoir la banane (literally 'to have the banana') means to have a big smile or to be very happy. The shape of a wide smile resembles a banana, which is where the saying comes from.

💡 * J'aime manger une banane pour le petit-déjeuner. (I like to eat a banana for breakfast.)

• Combien coûtent les bananes ? (How much do the bananas cost?)
• Il a gagné au loto, alors il a la banane ! (He won the lottery, so he's grinning from ear to ear!)
• Il n'y a plus de bananes dans la corbeille à fruits. (There are no more bananas in the fruit bowl.)

The 'cooking banana' – la banane plantain

A key ingredient in many tropical cuisines, the cooking banana is known in French as la banane plantain.

Unlike the sweet bananas (les bananes) you might eat raw, la banane plantain is a starchy variety that is almost always cooked before eating. It's often treated more like a vegetable, similar to a potato, in culinary preparations.

You will hear this term most often in the context of African, Caribbean, and Latin American cuisine. While the English word "plantain" is sometimes used in French, banane plantain is the more specific and widely understood term.

La banane plantain can be fried (frite), boiled (bouillie), or baked (cuite au four). Its preparation often depends on its ripeness; green plantains are starchy and savory, while yellow or black ones become much sweeter.

It's important to remember that banane is a feminine noun, so you will always see it as la banane plantain or une banane plantain. The word plantain here acts as an invariable adjective, meaning it does not change form.

💡 * J'ai acheté des bananes plantains au marché pour faire des allocos.

• Pour cette recette, il vous faut une banane plantain bien mûre.
• La banane plantain est un aliment de base en Afrique de l'Ouest.
• Sais-tu comment préparer la banane plantain frite ?

The 'bunch of bananas' – un régime de bananes

When referring to a very large bunch of bananas, specifically the entire stalk as it grows on the tree, French uses a specific and interesting term: un régime de bananes.

While the word régime most commonly means 'diet' (e.g., un régime sans sucre - a sugar-free diet), in this botanical context it refers to a whole stalk or bunch of fruit. This is a classic example of a French word with multiple, distinct meanings depending on the context.

You would use un régime de bananes to describe the massive, tree-grown bunch you might see at a plantation or hanging in a tropical market. It implies the entire fruit cluster that grows from a single stem.

For the smaller cluster of bananas you buy at the supermarket, the more common term is une main de bananes (literally 'a hand of bananas'). This is what you would ask for when doing your daily grocery shopping.

To remember the difference, think of scale: un régime is the entire, huge stalk from the tree, while une main is the small 'handful' you buy to eat.

💡 * Le producteur a transporté un énorme régime de bananes au marché.

• Un régime de bananes peut peser jusqu'à 50 kilos !
• Pour le petit-déjeuner, j'ai juste besoin d'une main de bananes, pas d'un régime entier.
• Sur la photo, le singe est assis à côté d'un régime de bananes.

1. The 'banana tree' – le bananier

Le bananier is the French term for 'the banana tree'. As the definite article le suggests, the noun is masculine.

It is crucial not to confuse the tree, le bananier, with the fruit it bears, which is la banane (a feminine noun). This distinction is common in French for fruit-bearing plants.

This pattern of a masculine tree name and a feminine fruit name is very frequent. For example, le pommier is the 'apple tree' and la pomme is the 'apple'; le cerisier is the 'cherry tree' and la cerise is the 'cherry'.

You will typically encounter the word bananier when discussing tropical regions or gardens, particularly in French-speaking areas like the Caribbean islands (Martinique, Guadeloupe) where banana cultivation is common.

💡 * Les singes grimpent sur le bananier.

• Mon bananier a besoin de plus de soleil pour pousser.
• On récolte les bananes du bananier quand elles sont encore vertes.
• Il y a un bananier décoratif dans le salon.

The 'banana peel' – la peau de banane

Literally, la peau de banane translates directly to 'the banana peel' or 'the skin of a banana.' This is its most basic, everyday meaning.

More importantly, une peau de banane is a very common French idiom. Figuratively, it means a trap, a dirty trick, or an underhanded move designed to make someone fail, slip up, or look foolish.

The expression is frequently paired with the verb glisser (to slip/slide). The phrase glisser une peau de banane à quelqu'un means 'to set a trap for someone' or 'to metaphorically trip someone up.'

This idiom is widely understood and can be used in many situations, from office politics to friendly rivalries. It perfectly describes a deliberate, often subtle, act of sabotage.

To remember it, just picture the classic cartoon gag of a character slipping on a banana peel. The French idiom captures that exact idea: an unexpected obstacle placed in your path to cause a downfall.

💡 * Attention, cette question est une vraie peau de banane. (Watch out, this question is a real trap.)

• Son collègue lui a glissé une peau de banane pendant la présentation. (His colleague tripped him up during the presentation.)
• Méfie-toi de cette offre, ça sent la peau de banane. (Be wary of that offer, it seems like a trap.)
• Le politicien a évité la peau de banane tendue par le journaliste. (The politician avoided the trap set by the journalist.)

The 'dried banana' – la banane séchée

Literally, la banane séchée translates to “the dried banana.” However, as an idiomatic expression in French, it's used to describe someone who is extremely thin or skinny. Think of how a banana shrinks and withers when it dries out; the expression applies this image to a person's physique.

This is an informal and slightly teasing or pejorative term. You wouldn't use it as a formal compliment. It’s often used among friends or family to comment on someone's weight loss or naturally slender build, similar to calling someone “skin and bones” in English. It carries a familiar, sometimes critical, tone.

Interestingly, the word une banane on its own can also refer to a type of hairstyle, specifically a quiff or a rockabilly-style pompadour. While la banane séchée isn't a standard term for a hairstyle, it could be used creatively to describe a particularly thin or deflated-looking quiff.

The expression la banane séchée is somewhat dated and not extremely common in everyday conversation among younger generations. For a more neutral and common way to say someone is very thin, you are more likely to hear expressions like maigre comme un clou (thin as a nail) or simply très mince (very slim).

💡 * Après sa maladie, il n'était plus qu'une banane séchée.

• Mange un peu plus, tu ressembles à une banane séchée !
• Quand il était jeune, il était grand et fin comme une banane séchée.

The 'mashed banana' – la banane écrasée

To say 'mashed banana' in French, you use the direct and descriptive phrase la banane écrasée. This term is straightforward and widely understood in culinary and everyday contexts.

The term is composed of la banane (the banana) and écrasée. Écrasée is the past participle of the verb écraser, which means 'to crush' or 'to mash'. Notice the -ée ending, which indicates that the participle agrees with the feminine noun banane.

You will commonly hear la banane écrasée when referring to baby food, a simple healthy snack, or an ingredient for baking, such as in banana bread (pain à la banane) or muffins.

💡 * J'ai besoin d'une banane écrasée pour faire mes pancakes.

• Le médecin a recommandé de donner de la banane écrasée au bébé.
• Pour un en-cas rapide, rien de tel qu'une banane écrasée avec un peu de miel.

The 'banana split' dessert – un banana split

The 'banana split' dessert – un banana split

Here's an easy one! The term for a banana split in French is simply un banana split. This is a direct loanword from English, known as an anglicism, which has been fully integrated into the French culinary vocabulary.

The term is masculine, so it's always un banana split or le banana split. You'll find it on dessert menus (la carte des desserts) in many French cafés, brasseries, and ice cream parlors (glaciers).

While the spelling is identical, the pronunciation will have a French accent. Don't be afraid to order it just as you see it written—everyone will know exactly what you mean.

💡 * Pour le dessert, je voudrais un banana split.

• Le glacier du coin fait le meilleur banana split de la ville.
• Partageons un banana split, il est énorme !

1. The expression for 'a big smile' – avoir la banane

A wonderfully visual and fruity way to say someone has a big, happy smile is avoir la banane. The literal translation of this common French expression is 'to have the banana'.

This idiom gets its meaning from the shape of a wide grin, which resembles the curve of a banana. When someone says tu as la banane, they mean you look incredibly happy or are smiling from ear to ear.

To use this informal expression, you just need to conjugate the verb avoir (to have) to match the subject. For example, j'ai la banane means 'I have a big smile,' and nous avons la banane means 'we have a big smile'.

💡 * Pourquoi est-ce que tu as la banane aujourd'hui ? (Why do you have such a big smile today?)

• Elle a réussi son examen, donc elle a la banane. (She passed her exam, so she's beaming.)
• Quand il a vu le cadeau, il a tout de suite eu la banane. (When he saw the gift, he immediately got a huge grin.)
• Les enfants ont la banane parce que c'est les vacances. (The kids are all smiles because it's the holidays.)

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

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

This guide has established that banane is overwhelmingly the most common and understood word for “banana” in French. However, the French language is rich with regionalisms, and you might find specific terms for different types, like the banane plantain (plantain).

To explore further, you can perform an online search for “comment dire banane en” followed by a specific Francophone region, such as Québec, Martinique, or Senegal. This can uncover local or Creole variations.

If you discover a potential synonym for banane, be sure to check its context. It might refer to a specific variety, a cooking preparation, or be very informal slang. Observing how native speakers use it is key.

Pay close attention when you read French recipes, watch cooking shows, or visit a marché (market) in a French-speaking area. Immersing yourself in the culture is the best way to pick up authentic, everyday vocabulary.

For a deeper look at the word banane and related expressions (like avoir la banane - to have a big smile), the online dictionary WordReference is an excellent and reliable resource for learners.

I hope this article has been helpful! While there may not be a famous French proverb about bananas, mastering essential vocabulary is a crucial step on your path to fluency. Keep learning, and you'll be speaking with confidence in no time!