Acide is the most common way to say “sour” in French. But just like in English, there are many other words you can use to describe that tangy, tart, or even unpleasant taste. Whether you're talking about a lemon, a specific dish, or even a person's mood, expanding your vocabulary beyond just 'acide' will make your French sound much more natural and nuanced. Let’s dive into 9 different ways to say “sour” in French!

The standard 'sour' – aigre

The standard 'sour' – aigre

Aigre is the most common and direct word for 'sour' in French, primarily describing taste.

As an adjective, aigre must agree in number with the noun it modifies. Interestingly, it does not change for gender, making it simpler than many other adjectives: aigre - singular (masculine or feminine, e.g., un citron aigre, une pomme aigre) aigres - plural (masculine or feminine, e.g., des citrons aigres, des pommes aigres)

You can use aigre in a wide range of situations, from describing food to more abstract concepts like moods or situations.

Beyond its literal meaning of taste, aigre can also refer to something that has spoiled, a sharp or shrill sound, or even a disagreeable, bitter personality.

To understand the specific meaning of aigre, context is crucial. For food, it's usually about taste. For liquids like milk or wine, it often means it has gone bad. Le lait est aigre. (The milk is sour/spoiled.) Un caractère aigre. (A sour/bitter disposition.) Une voix aigre. (A shrill/sharp voice.)

For instance, une pomme aigre refers to a sour apple, while if a situation tourne à l'aigre, it means it's turning unpleasant or going wrong.

You'll frequently encounter aigre in the compound adjective aigre-doux/douce (sweet and sour), commonly used for sauces or flavors.

While aigre has multiple uses, the surrounding words and situation almost always make its intended meaning clear. Don't worry too much about misinterpretation.

In French culture, the taste of aigre is often celebrated, especially in culinary preparations where it's balanced with other flavors to create rich and complex dishes.

💡 * Cette sauce est un peu aigre. (This sauce is a little sour.)

• Le lait a tourné à l'aigre. (The milk has turned sour.)
• Il a un esprit aigre. (He has a bitter spirit.)
• J'aime les bonbons aigres. (I like sour candies.)
• Le vinaigre est très aigre. (Vinegar is very sour.)

The 'acidic' or 'sharp-tasting' – acide

The “acidic” or “sharp-tasting” – acide

Acide is a versatile French adjective that directly translates to “acidic” or “sour/sharp-tasting.” It's used in both literal and figurative contexts.

Most commonly, you'll encounter acide when describing the taste of food or drink. Think of a lemon, vinegar, or certain fruits that naturally have a sharp tang.

Beyond taste, acide can also describe a person's personality or a comment, implying bitterness, sharpness, cynicism, or even a cutting wit. For example, an esprit acide refers to a 'sharp wit' or 'bitter mind'.

In a scientific or chemical context, acide directly refers to chemical acids, just like in English. For instance, acide sulfurique means 'sulfuric acid'.

As an adjective, acide agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies. Interestingly, its masculine and feminine singular forms are the same (acide). For the plural, you simply add an 's': acides.

While acide often means 'sour', it's worth noting that aigre is another word for sour, often implying something that has gone bad or curdled (e.g., lait aigre - sour milk). Acide more often relates to a natural, sharp tang.

💡 * Ce citron est très acide. (This lemon is very sour/acidic.)

• Elle a fait une remarque acide. (She made a sharp/bitter remark.)
• Le vinaigre est un liquide acide. (Vinegar is an acidic liquid.)
• J'aime les bonbons acides. (I like sour candies.)
• L'acide chlorhydrique est dangereux. (Hydrochloric acid is dangerous.)

The 'tart' or 'tangy' (often pleasantly sour) – acidulé

The French adjective acidulé describes something that is 'tart,' 'tangy,' or 'pleasantly sour.' It's a nuanced term often used to evoke a specific, delightful sensory experience.

Unlike simply acide (acidic, often unpleasantly sour), acidulé carries a positive connotation, suggesting a refreshing sharpness rather than a harsh or bitter sourness. Think of the zest of a lemon or a crisp green apple.

You'll most frequently encounter acidulé in culinary descriptions, particularly for fruits, desserts, candies, and certain beverages. It highlights a bright, zesty, and often balanced quality in flavor.

As an adjective, acidulé agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies: acidulé (masculine singular), acidulée (feminine singular), acidulés (masculine plural), and acidulées (feminine plural).

It's important to differentiate acidulé from acide. While both relate to sourness, acide generally means 'acidic' or 'sour' in a more general, sometimes negative, sense (e.g., un goût acide - an acidic taste, or une personnalité acide - a bitter personality). Acidulé always implies a pleasant, balanced tartness that enhances the flavor.

In essence, acidulé describes a flavor profile that is vibrant and refreshing, often due to a natural acidity that has been mellowed or balanced, making it appealing and invigorating to the palate. It's the delightful tang that makes your mouth water.

💡 * J'aime les bonbons acidulés. (I like tangy candies.)* Cette sauce a une saveur légèrement acidulée. (This sauce has a slightly tart flavor.)* Les framboises ont un goût doux et acidulé. (Raspberries have a sweet and tangy taste.)* Elle a préparé une boisson très rafraîchissante et acidulée. (She prepared a very refreshing and tart drink.)* Le dessert était parfaitement acidulé, équilibrant le sucre. (The dessert was perfectly tart, balancing the sugar.)

The 'vinegary' – vinaigré

The adjective vinaigré literally translates to 'vinegary' in English, describing something that has the taste, smell, or characteristics of vinegar.

Most commonly, vinaigré is used in a culinary context to describe food that has been prepared with vinegar, such as a salad dressing or pickled vegetables.

Beyond food, vinaigré can also be used figuratively to describe a sour or ill-tempered mood, or a sharp, acidic remark, much like 'acidic' or 'cutting' in English.

As an adjective, vinaigré agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies (e.g., sauce vinaigrée, légumes vinaigrés).

💡 * J'aime les concombres vinaigrés. (I like vinegary cucumbers.)

• Cette sauce est un peu trop vinaigrée à mon goût. (This sauce is a bit too vinegary for my taste.)
• Il avait un ton très vinaigré ce matin. (He had a very sour tone this morning.)
• Les oignons vinaigrés sont parfaits avec la charcuterie. (Vinegary onions are perfect with cold cuts.)
• Elle a fait une remarque vinaigrée qui a choqué tout le monde. (She made a sharp remark that shocked everyone.)

The 'bitter' (a related, often sharp taste) – amer

The 'bitter' (a related, often sharp taste) – amer

The French adjective amer directly translates to 'bitter' in English. It describes one of the five basic tastes, often characterized by a sharp, unpleasant, or pungent sensation.

It's commonly used to describe food or drinks that have this particular taste, like café amer (bitter coffee) or bière amère (bitter beer).

As an adjective, amer must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. The feminine form is amère, and the plural forms are amers (masculine plural) and amères (feminine plural).

Beyond taste, amer can also describe feelings or experiences that are harsh, painful, or disappointing. For instance, une déception amère means 'a bitter disappointment'.

It's often used to convey a sense of regret, resentment, or a difficult reality. You might hear of une vérité amère (a bitter truth) or un goût amer (a bitter taste/feeling, often metaphorically).

💡 *Le café sans sucre est très amer. (Coffee without sugar is very bitter.)
*Elle a une amère expérience de la vie. (She has a bitter life experience.)
*Ses paroles étaient amères et pleines de reproches. (His words were bitter and full of reproach.)
*La défaite fut une pilule amère à avaler. (The defeat was a bitter pill to swallow.)
*J'aime le chocolat noir, même s'il est un peu amer. (I like dark chocolate, even if it's a bit bitter.)

The 'acerbic' or 'sharp' (often for taste or tone) – acerbe

The adjective acerbe in French directly translates to 'acerbic' or 'sharp' in English. It describes something that is harsh, bitter, or cutting, often referring to a taste or a tone of voice.

Most frequently, acerbe is used to characterize speech, comments, criticism, or humor that is particularly biting, severe, or sarcastic. It implies a certain harshness that can be unpleasant or even hurtful.

While 'sharp' can sometimes have a positive connotation (e.g., a sharp mind), acerbe almost always carries a negative one, highlighting the unpleasant or bitter aspect. It suggests a lack of sweetness or gentleness.

Though related to amer (bitter) and aigre (sour), acerbe extends beyond mere taste to describe a characteristic harshness in expression or personality. It's more about the cutting edge than just the flavor.

💡 * Il a fait une remarque très acerbe. (He made a very acerbic remark.)

• Son humour est souvent acerbe. (His humor is often acerbic.)
• La critique était acerbe, mais juste. (The criticism was harsh, but fair.)
• Le goût de ce fruit est légèrement acerbe. (The taste of this fruit is slightly acerbic.)

The 'lemony' (implying a distinct sourness) – citronné

The French adjective citronné directly translates to 'lemony'. However, it often carries the nuance of a distinct, sometimes tart, sourness characteristic of lemons, rather than just a mild lemon flavor or scent.

This term is commonly used to describe flavors, aromas, or even colors that evoke the strong, acidic qualities of lemon. It's more specific than simply au citron (with lemon) and emphasizes the characteristic tang.

As an adjective, citronné must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. For example, une saveur citronnée (a lemony flavor), des plats citronnés (lemony dishes).

💡 * Cette tarte a un goût délicieusement citronné. (This tart has a deliciously lemony taste.)

• J'adore le thé glacé citronné en été. (I love lemony iced tea in summer.)
• La bougie parfumée avait une odeur fraîchement citronnée. (The scented candle had a freshly lemony smell.)
• Nous avons préparé un poulet citronné pour le dîner. (We prepared a lemony chicken for dinner.)

The 'turned' or 'spoiled' (referring to food that has gone sour) – tourné

The French adjective tourné (from the verb tourner, 'to turn') is specifically used to describe food that has gone bad, or 'turned' sour. This is most commonly associated with dairy products.

When applied to food, tourné signifies spoilage, particularly when something has fermented or gone sour. Think of milk or cream that has 'turned' and developed an unpleasant taste or texture.

This term is almost exclusively used for dairy products like milk, cream, or yogurt, implying a souring or curdling process. For other types of spoiled food, more general terms like avarié (spoiled) or périmé (expired) would be used.

As an adjective, tourné agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies: tourné (masc. sing.), tournée (fem. sing.), tournés (masc. plur.), tournées (fem. plur.).

💡 * Le lait est tourné, je ne peux pas le boire. (The milk is sour, I can't drink it.)

• La crème fraîche a tourné pendant la nuit. (The crème fraîche went sour overnight.)
• Ces yaourts sont tournés, il faut les jeter. (These yogurts are spoiled, they must be thrown away.)
• Je pense que le fromage blanc est tourné. (I think the quark (fresh cheese) is sour.)

1. The 'Piquant' or 'Pungent' (a Sharp, Sometimes Sourish, Taste) – Piquant

The French adjective piquant directly translates to 'pungent,' 'sharp,' or 'spicy' when describing a taste. It refers to a flavor that has a noticeable kick, often stimulating the palate.

While often associated with heat, piquant isn't solely about spiciness like chili. It can also describe a tangy, zesty, or even slightly sour sensation, such as that found in strong cheeses, mustard, or certain vinegars. The key is a distinct, lively sensation on the tongue.

As an adjective, piquant agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies. The forms are: piquant (masculine singular), piquante (feminine singular), piquants (masculine plural), and piquantes (feminine plural).

Beyond taste, piquant can also be used figuratively to describe something stimulating, intriguing, or even slightly provocative, like a 'piquant remark' or a 'piquant detail' in a story. This usage emphasizes its ability to 'spice things up' beyond the culinary realm.

💡 * Ce fromage est très piquant. (This cheese is very pungent/sharp.)

• J'aime les saveurs piquantes. (I like pungent/spicy flavors.)
• La sauce est un peu trop piquante pour moi. (The sauce is a bit too spicy for me.)
• Elle a fait une remarque piquante. (She made a piquant/sharp remark.)
• Ce plat a un goût piquant et frais. (This dish has a pungent and fresh taste.)

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

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

Our list features the most common ways to say 'sour' in French. But French, like any language, is rich with nuances. You might encounter other terms, from more formal or technical ones, to regional expressions, or even slang.

To discover more, you can also do an online search for 'comment dire aigre en ___' followed by a specific Francophone country or region.

You might find some interesting synonyms for aigre or related terms. Of course, always make sure to check a word’s definition and try to see it used in context before you incorporate it into your vocabulary.

Pay close attention as you read, watch, and listen to things in French — you may discover different ways to describe sourness or other tastes, enriching your understanding of the language.

And if you're looking for comprehensive ways to talk about tastes, flavors, or words related to the sensation of sourness in French, the WordReference entry for aigre is an excellent place to start!

I hope you found this article helpful in expanding your French vocabulary for 'sour'. As a final thought, remember that language learning is a journey of continuous discovery, much like exploring new flavors. Bonne dégustation linguistique! (Good linguistic tasting!)