Riz is the most common and direct way to say “rice” in French, and you'll find it on menus and in grocery stores across the French-speaking world. But what about when you're talking about a specific type of rice, or rice as part of a famous dish?

As you explore French cuisine and culture, you'll discover that, just like in English, there are various ways to refer to this staple grain.

Let's dive into the different words and phrases French speakers use for “rice” in various contexts!

1. The standard 'rice' – le riz

The standard and universal word for 'rice' in French is le riz.

Le riz is the direct translation for 'rice'. It's a fundamental vocabulary word you'll encounter in restaurants, supermarkets, and kitchens across the French-speaking world.

Riz is a masculine noun, so you will always see it as le riz. It is typically used as a singular, uncountable noun, much like 'sugar' (le sucre) or 'milk' (le lait). You don't say les rizs for a general portion of rice.

When you want to say 'some rice', as in an unspecified quantity, you use the partitive article du. This is a contraction of de + le. So, 'I am eating rice' becomes Je mange **du riz**.

This word is used for all types of rice and in all situations. Whether you're talking about rice as a side dish (un accompagnement), a main ingredient, or a single grain (un grain de riz), the base word remains riz.

While not as central to traditional French cuisine as pasta or potatoes, rice is a very common side dish, often served with dishes that have a sauce, like boeuf bourguignon or blanquette de veau. You might also see riz au lait, a classic French rice pudding dessert.

💡 * Je voudrais du poulet avec du riz, s'il vous plaît.

Le riz est cultivé dans de nombreuses régions du monde.

Pour faire ce plat, il faut 200 grammes de riz.

Tu as laissé tomber un grain de riz par terre.

Ma grand-mère prépare le meilleur riz au lait.

The 'cooked rice' – le riz cuit

The French term for 'cooked rice' is le riz cuit. This is a straightforward and widely used phrase you'll encounter in recipes, on menus, and in everyday conversation about food.

Let's break down the components. Le riz means 'the rice'. The word cuit is the past participle of the verb cuire (to cook). When placed after the noun like this, it functions as an adjective meaning 'cooked'.

In French, simply saying le riz can often refer to uncooked rice grains, such as what you would buy in a bag at the supermarket. Adding cuit clarifies that you are talking about rice that has been prepared and is ready to eat, removing any ambiguity.

You will use le riz cuit when describing a meal or an ingredient that is already prepared. For example, you might tell someone, 'Le plat est servi avec du riz cuit et des légumes' (The dish is served with cooked rice and vegetables).

If you want to talk about the action of cooking rice, you would use the verb form. A common construction is faire cuire du riz. For example: 'Je vais faire cuire du riz pour le dîner' (I am going to cook rice for dinner).

💡 * Le riz cuit est la base de nombreux plats.

Il reste un peu de riz cuit dans le réfrigérateur.

Assurez-vous que le riz est bien cuit avant de servir.

Je préfère le riz cuit à la vapeur.

The 'uncooked rice' – le riz cru

In French, when you need to talk about rice in its raw, uncooked state, the term you use is le riz cru. This is a literal and direct translation.

The phrase is composed of two simple parts: le riz, the French word for 'rice', and the adjective cru, which means 'raw' or 'uncooked'.

You will typically use le riz cru when referring to the dry grains you buy in a bag at the store or when listing ingredients for a recipe before the cooking process begins.

The natural opposite of le riz cru is le riz cuit (cooked rice). The word cuit is the past participle of the verb cuire (to cook). Knowing both terms is essential for understanding recipes and menus.

The word cru is an adjective, so it must agree with the noun it modifies. While riz is masculine singular, you'll see the form change for other raw foods, such as une carotte crue (a raw carrot) or des crudités (a dish of raw vegetables).

💡 * La recette nécessite 200 grammes de riz cru.

N'oubliez pas de laver le riz cru avant la cuisson.

Le riz cru se conserve longtemps dans un endroit sec.

Je préfère manger des légumes cuits plutôt que crus.

The 'brown rice' – le riz complet

To say “brown rice” in French, you use the term le riz complet.

The literal translation is “complete rice” or “whole rice.” The adjective complet (complete) is often used in French to describe whole-grain products, similar to how “whole” is used in English.

Le riz complet is a masculine noun. Therefore, you use masculine articles and agreements, such as le (the) and un (a/an). For example, you would say le riz complet est bon (the brown rice is good).

You will find le riz complet listed on grocery store packaging, on restaurant menus, and in recipes. It is the standard and widely understood term for brown rice throughout the French-speaking world.

💡 * Je préfère le riz complet au riz blanc. (I prefer brown rice to white rice.)

Pourriez-vous me donner une portion de riz complet ? (Could you give me a serving of brown rice?)

Le riz complet est une excellente source de fibres. (Brown rice is an excellent source of fiber.)

Cette recette nécessite du riz complet. (This recipe calls for brown rice.)

The 'white rice' – le riz blanc

The 'white rice' – le riz blanc

Le riz blanc is the direct French translation for 'white rice.' It is a staple food in many French households, commonly served as a side dish (un accompagnement) with meat, fish, or sauces.

In French, the noun riz (rice) is masculine. This is a crucial point for grammar. Consequently, it is always preceded by a masculine article, such as le (the) or un (a).

The adjective blanc (white) must agree in gender and number with the noun it describes. Since riz is masculine singular, the adjective takes its default masculine singular form: blanc. For a feminine noun, it would change to blanche (e.g., la voiture blanche - the white car).

To use this term correctly, simply remember the phrase le riz blanc and its masculine gender. This will help you form correct sentences when ordering food or talking about meals.

💡 * Je vais préparer du poulet avec du riz blanc ce soir. (I'm going to make chicken with white rice tonight.)

Préférez-vous le riz blanc ou le riz complet ? (Do you prefer white rice or brown rice?)

Un curry est toujours meilleur avec du riz blanc bien cuit. (A curry is always better with well-cooked white rice.)

Pourrais-je avoir une portion de riz blanc, s'il vous plaît ? (Could I have a serving of white rice, please?)

The 'wild rice' – le riz sauvage

The French term for “wild rice” is a direct and simple translation: le riz sauvage. While the name is straightforward, it's important to know that, just like in English, le riz sauvage isn't technically a true variety of rice.

Botanically, le riz sauvage is the grain of an aquatic grass, known in French as la zizanie aquatique or la zizanie des marais. This distinction is key to understanding its unique texture and nutritional profile compared to traditional rice (le riz).

In French cuisine, le riz sauvage is prized for its chewy texture and nutty, earthy flavor. It's often served as a sophisticated side dish with fish (poisson), poultry (volaille), or game (gibier). You'll also frequently find it mixed into salads and stuffings for a gourmet touch.

When shopping in France, you can find le riz sauvage in most supermarkets (supermarchés), often in the organic (bio) section or alongside other specialty grains. Be aware that it is typically more expensive than standard white or brown rice due to its harvesting process.

💡 * J'ai acheté un mélange de riz blanc et de riz sauvage.

Le riz sauvage se marie très bien avec le saumon.

La cuisson du riz sauvage est plus longue que celle du riz ordinaire.

J'adore le goût de noisette du riz sauvage dans ma salade.

The 'sticky rice' – le riz gluant

The French term for 'sticky rice' is le riz gluant.

The adjective gluant directly translates to 'sticky' or 'glutinous.' This term is used to describe the specific type of short-grained rice, common in many Asian dishes, that becomes particularly sticky when cooked.

In French, riz is a masculine noun. Consequently, the adjective must agree, taking the masculine form gluant. You will always refer to it as le riz gluant.

💡 * J'adore le riz gluant à la mangue, un dessert typiquement thaïlandais. (I love mango sticky rice, a typical Thai dessert.)

Pour cette recette, il faut acheter un paquet de riz gluant. (For this recipe, you need to buy a package of sticky rice.)

La texture du riz gluant est très différente des autres types de riz. (The texture of sticky rice is very different from other types of rice.)

A 'grain of rice' – un grain de riz

The phrase un grain de riz is the direct French translation for 'a grain of rice'. It is a fundamental phrase for anyone discussing food or cooking in French.

This phrase uses the construction un grain de followed by a noun. This structure is used to denote a single, small particle of a larger, often uncountable, substance. Think of 'grain' as a specific counter for tiny, granular items.

You will most frequently hear or read un grain de riz in culinary settings. It's used in recipes, when describing a dish, or simply when talking about the food staple itself. For example, a chef might inspect a single grain to check if the rice is cooked.

The power of learning this phrase is that the un grain de part can be applied to many other nouns. For instance, un grain de sable (a grain of sand), un grain de sel (a grain of salt), un grain de poivre (a peppercorn), and even metaphorically with un grain de folie (a touch of madness).

💡 * Il ne reste plus un seul grain de riz dans le paquet.

Pour la photo, le chef a délicatement placé un grain de riz sur le sushi.

L'enfant observait un grain de riz collé à sa cuillère.

La recette demande de faire griller chaque grain de riz avant d'ajouter l'eau.

1. The French for 'Rice Pudding': Le Riz au Lait

The most common and direct way to say 'rice pudding' in French is le riz au lait. The phrase literally translates to 'rice with milk.' It is composed of le riz (the rice) and au lait (with/in milk), perfectly describing this classic dessert.

Le riz au lait is a masculine noun. Therefore, you must use masculine articles like le (the) or un (a/an) and ensure any accompanying adjectives are in their masculine form. For example, you would say un riz au lait crémeux for 'a creamy rice pudding'.

In France, le riz au lait is considered a traditional comfort food, often referred to as a dessert de grand-mère (a grandmother's dessert). It's a staple that you can find pre-made in supermarkets, fresh in bakeries (boulangeries), and on the menu of many casual bistros.

While the base is simple, French riz au lait is often flavored with a vanilla bean (gousse de vanille), a dash of cinnamon (cannelle), or orange blossom water (fleur d'oranger). It's frequently served chilled, sometimes with a layer of caramel on top.

💡 * Ma grand-mère prépare le meilleur riz au lait.

Pour le dessert, je vais prendre un riz au lait à la vanille.

Aimes-tu le riz au lait avec un peu de cannelle ?

C'est une recette simple pour faire un délicieux riz au lait maison.

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

Our guide has covered the essential word for 'rice' in French: riz. While there aren't many direct synonyms for the grain itself, the language is full of specific terms for different types of rice and famous rice-based dishes.

You can expand your vocabulary by searching for specific varieties. Try looking up terms like 'riz basmati', 'riz complet' (brown rice), 'riz gluant' (sticky rice), or the famous 'riz de Camargue' to discover regional specialties.

A fantastic way to see these terms in action is by browsing French recipes or online grocery stores. You'll learn not just the words but also their culinary context, for example, which rice is used for a 'risotto' versus a 'riz au lait' (rice pudding).

As you explore French cuisine through cooking shows, blogs, or restaurant menus, pay attention to how ingredients are described. Understanding this specific vocabulary is a delicious way to immerse yourself in French culture.

If you want to explore more culinary vocabulary, a great French recipe website like Marmiton or the Larousse dictionary entry for riz can be excellent resources for discovering related terms and phrases.

I hope this article has been helpful on your culinary and linguistic journey. To finish, here’s a fitting thought from the famed French gastronome Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin: 'La découverte d'un mets nouveau fait plus pour le bonheur du genre humain que la découverte d'une étoile.' (The discovery of a new dish does more for human happiness than the discovery of a star.)

'9 ways to say "rice" in French'