Eating is a fundamental part of life, and in French, just like in English, there's more than one way to talk about it! While 'manger' is the most common verb for 'to eat', mastering other expressions will make your French sound much more natural and sophisticated. Ready to expand your culinary vocabulary? Let's dive into 9 different ways to say 'to eat' in French, covering everything from everyday meals to more specific or informal contexts!

The standard 'to eat' – manger

The standard “to eat” – manger

In French, manger is the most common and straightforward verb for “to eat.”

Manger is a regular -ER verb, meaning its conjugations generally follow a predictable pattern for most tenses and pronouns.

However, there's a small but important spelling change in the nous form of manger in the present tense to maintain the 'g' sound. Instead of nous mangons, it becomes nous mangeons (we eat). This is to ensure the 'g' retains its soft 'j' sound before 'o'.

Here's how manger is conjugated in the present tense: Je mange (I eat), Tu manges (You eat - informal singular), Il/Elle/On mange (He/She/One eats), Nous mangeons (We eat), Vous mangez (You eat - formal singular/plural), Ils/Elles mangent (They eat).

Manger is a transitive verb, meaning it often takes a direct object to specify what is being eaten. For example, manger une pomme (to eat an apple) or manger du poisson (to eat some fish).

When referring to eating an unspecified quantity of something, you'll often use partitive articles (du, de la, de l', des) with manger, such as manger du pain (to eat some bread) or manger de la salade (to eat some salad).

Beyond its literal meaning, manger appears in several common French expressions, like manger sur le pouce (to eat on the go) or manger des yeux (to devour with one's eyes).

While manger generally means 'to eat', it can also implicitly refer to having a meal, especially when combined with time expressions or context, e.g., manger à midi (to eat at noon/have lunch) or manger en famille (to eat with family/have a meal with family).

💡 *Je mange une pomme. (I am eating an apple.)
*Nous mangeons au restaurant ce soir. (We are eating at the restaurant tonight.)
*Tu manges trop vite ! (You eat too fast!)
*Ils mangent des fruits pour le dessert. (They eat fruit for dessert.)
*Mange ta soupe ! (Eat your soup! - informal command)

To have a meal – prendre un repas

In French, the common and straightforward way to express “to have a meal” is with the phrase prendre un repas.

Literally, prendre means “to take” and un repas means “a meal.” So, the phrase translates directly to “to take a meal,” which naturally conveys the idea of having one.

While manger (to eat) is also frequently used, prendre un repas often implies the complete act of sitting down and consuming a full meal, rather than just the action of eating.

This phrase is versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though it tends to sound a bit more complete or slightly more formal than simply saying “to eat”. It's perfect when discussing the act of having a meal in general terms.

Remember that prendre is an irregular verb, so its conjugation will change depending on the subject and tense (e.g., je prends, tu prends, il prend).

Mastering prendre un repas adds a precise and natural-sounding expression to your French vocabulary for mealtime discussions.

💡 * Je vais prendre un repas avec mes parents ce soir. (I'm going to have a meal with my parents tonight.)

Nous prenons toujours un repas ensemble le dimanche. (We always have a meal together on Sundays.)

As-tu déjà pris ton repas ? (Have you already had your meal?)

Il est important de prendre des repas équilibrés. (It's important to have balanced meals.)

Où pouvons-nous prendre un bon repas ici ? (Where can we have a good meal here?)

To taste/savor – déguster

The verb déguster in French translates to 'to taste' or 'to savor', but it carries a richer meaning than a simple act of tasting.

Unlike goûter (to taste, to try), déguster implies a deliberate, appreciative, and often slow enjoyment of food, drink, or an experience, focusing on the sensory pleasure.

You'll most commonly hear déguster in culinary contexts, especially when talking about fine dining, wine tasting, or enjoying gourmet foods. It emphasizes appreciating the flavors and aromas.

Déguster is a regular -er verb. Its conjugation follows the standard pattern for verbs ending in -er, making it relatively easy to learn.

While primarily for food and drink, déguster can occasionally be used figuratively to mean 'to fully experience' or 'to relish' a moment, highlighting a deep appreciation for the event.

Remember déguster when you want to convey more than just tasting; use it when you're truly savoring and enjoying something with all your senses.

💡 * Nous allons déguster ce vin rouge. (We are going to savor this red wine.)

J'aime déguster un bon café le matin. (I like to savor a good coffee in the morning.)

Ils dégustent leur repas tranquillement. (They are quietly enjoying their meal.)

Venez déguster nos spécialités locales! (Come and taste/savor our local specialties!)

To restore oneself/eat (formally) – se restaurer

The verb se restaurer literally translates to 'to restore oneself' and is formally used to mean 'to eat' or 'to have a meal'. It implies a more substantial or proper intake of food rather than a quick snack.

This verb carries a formal tone and is often encountered in public settings, such as on signs at train stations, museums, or highway rest areas, indicating a place where one can get a meal. For instance, "Point de restauration" means "Eating point" or "Food court".

As a reflexive verb, se restaurer always requires a reflexive pronoun that matches the subject (e.g., je me restaure, tu te restaures, il/elle/on se restaure, nous nous restaurons, vous vous restaurez, ils/elles se restaurent).

💡 *Nous allons nous restaurer après cette longue randonnée.
*Le musée propose un espace où les visiteurs peuvent se restaurer.
*Veuillez vous restaurer avant de reprendre la route.
*Après le spectacle, nous nous sommes restaurés dans un petit café.

To have a quick bite/snack – casser la croûte

To have a quick bite/snack – casser la croûte

Casser la croûte is a delightful French idiom that means "to have a quick bite" or "to grab a snack."

Literally, it translates to "to break the crust," referring to the crust of bread.

This expression is highly informal and is typically used among friends, family, or in casual settings.

It implies a light, often impromptu meal, not a formal sit-down dinner. Think of it as a small, satisfying break with food.

Use casser la croûte when you're referring to a simple, unpretentious meal or snack, like a sandwich or a piece of fruit, often eaten on the go or during a break.

💡 * J'ai faim, on va casser la croûte ? (I'm hungry, shall we grab a bite?)

Avant de partir en randonnée, il faut casser la croûte. (Before going hiking, we need to have a snack.)

Je n'ai pas le temps pour un vrai repas, je vais juste casser la croûte. (I don't have time for a real meal, I'll just grab a quick bite.)

Viens, on va casser la croûte au marché. (Come on, let's grab a snack at the market.)

To enjoy a meal/treat oneself – se régaler

To truly enjoy a meal, treat oneself to something delicious, or even have a blast with an activity in French, the verb to use is se régaler. This versatile reflexive verb perfectly captures the idea of savoring something with great pleasure.

While verbs like manger simply mean 'to eat,' se régaler implies a much deeper appreciation for food. It's not just about consuming a meal; it's about finding it delightful, tasty, and a real treat for the senses. It conveys a sense of gastronomic satisfaction.

Interestingly, se régaler isn't exclusively for food! You can also use it figuratively to express enjoying an activity immensely. For example, you might se régaler at a concert, during a good movie, or while reading a captivating book, meaning you're having a fantastic time and thoroughly enjoying the experience.

As a reflexive verb, se régaler always requires a reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nous, vous, se) before the conjugated verb. It is conjugated with être in compound tenses (e.g., passé composé: je me suis régalé(e)). Its regular -er ending makes it straightforward to conjugate in various tenses.

When you hear a French speaker exclaim 'On s'est régalé !' after a meal, they're not just saying 'We ate well'; they're emphatically stating 'We really enjoyed it!' or 'It was absolutely delicious!' It's a natural and enthusiastic way to express profound satisfaction, whether it's culinary or experiential.

💡 *J'adore ce plat ! Je me régale à chaque bouchée. (I love this dish! I enjoy every bite.)
*On s'est vraiment régalé au restaurant italien hier soir. (We really enjoyed ourselves at the Italian restaurant last night.)
*Tu vas te régaler avec ce nouveau jeu vidéo, il est incroyable ! (You're going to love this new video game, it's incredible!)
*Les enfants se sont régalés à la fête foraine. (The children had a blast at the funfair.)
*Je me suis régalé de ton histoire de voyage. (I really enjoyed your travel story.)

To gobble/eat (slang) – bouffer

The verb bouffer is a very common and informal way to say 'to eat' in French, often translated as 'to gobble,' 'to stuff oneself,' or simply 'to chow down.' It's a staple in everyday spoken French.

While manger is the standard verb for 'to eat,' bouffer is used in casual conversations among friends, family, or in relaxed settings. It carries a slightly less refined connotation than manger, sometimes implying eating quickly or greedily, though it's often used innocuously.

Bouffer is a regular -er verb, meaning its conjugation follows the standard pattern for verbs ending in -er. For example, je bouffe, tu bouffes, il/elle bouffe, nous bouffons, vous bouffez, ils/elles bouffent.

💡 * J'ai trop bouffé ce midi, je suis plein! (I ate too much this afternoon, I'm full!)

Qu'est-ce qu'on bouffe ce soir? (What are we eating tonight?)

Arrête de bouffer tes ongles! (Stop biting your nails!)

Ils ont bouffé tout le gâteau en un rien de temps. (They gobbled up the whole cake in no time.)

To picnic – pique-niquer

The verb for 'to picnic' in French is pique-niquer.

This verb directly translates to 'to picnic' and is used to describe the act of having an informal meal outdoors, typically in a scenic location like a park or the countryside.

As a regular -er verb, pique-niquer is conjugated like many other common French verbs (e.g., parler, manger), making it straightforward to master once you know the -er verb patterns.

It's important not to confuse the verb with the noun un pique-nique, which refers to the picnic meal itself. You can faire un pique-nique (to have a picnic) or simply pique-niquer (to picnic).

💡 * Nous allons pique-niquer au parc ce week-end. (We are going to picnic at the park this weekend.)

Ils ont pique-niqué près du lac hier. (They picnicked near the lake yesterday.)

J'adore pique-niquer quand il fait beau. (I love picnicking when the weather is nice.)

Pique-niquons ensemble demain ! (Let's picnic together tomorrow!)

To snack/nibble – grignoter

The French verb grignoter means 'to snack' or 'to nibble.' It describes the act of eating small amounts of food, often between meals, and can sometimes imply a less healthy or more frequent type of eating than a formal snack.

Grignoter is a regular -ER verb, which means its conjugation follows the standard pattern for verbs ending in -ER in French. This makes it relatively straightforward to use in different tenses.

While grignoter directly translates to 'to snack' or 'to nibble,' it often carries a connotation of eating small, perhaps less substantial or even unhealthy, bits of food throughout the day. It's distinct from prendre une collation, which is more akin to 'having a snack' in a planned, often healthier way. Think of grignoter as 'grazing' or 'munching.'

Beyond food, grignoter can also be used figuratively to mean 'to nibble away at' or 'to erode' something gradually, such as a budget, time, or a lead in a competition. For example, grignoter le budget means to slowly eat into the budget.

💡 *Je n'arrête pas de grignoter entre les repas. (I can't stop snacking between meals.)
*Elle grignote des biscuits devant la télé. (She's nibbling on cookies in front of the TV.)
*Arrête de grignoter si tu veux avoir faim pour le dîner. (Stop snacking if you want to be hungry for dinner.)
*Ces petites dépenses grignotent notre budget. (These small expenses are nibbling away at our budget.)
*L'équipe adverse grignote son retard. (The opposing team is closing the gap / nibbling away at their deficit.)

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

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

Our list has covered the most common ways to say “to eat” in French, including manger, prendre, and meal-specific verbs like dîner, déjeuner, and souper. However, the French language is rich with expressions, and you'll find other terms ranging from informal slang to regionalisms, or even older expressions that are less common today.

If you're curious about specific regional variations, you can always do an online search for “comment dire manger en ___” followed by a particular Francophone country or region, such as “comment dire manger en Belgique”.

As you explore, you might stumble upon interesting synonyms or slang for manger. Always make sure to check a word’s definition and try to observe it used in context before incorporating it into your own vocabulary.

Keep your ears and eyes open as you immerse yourself in French media — reading books, watching films, or listening to podcasts. You’ll undoubtedly discover different, nuanced ways to talk about eating.

For a deeper dive into the verb manger and its many related expressions, the WordReference entry is an excellent starting point. It often includes idiomatic phrases and usage notes that can be incredibly helpful.

I hope this article has helped you expand your culinary vocabulary in French! To conclude, here’s a delightful quote from Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin: “Dis-moi ce que tu manges, je te dirai ce que tu es.” (Tell me what you eat, and I will tell you what you are.)

9 ways to say "to eat" in French