Comment dire 'nuts'? Can anyone tell me how to translate the English word 'nuts' into French? Is there a generic term to cover various types of nuts? It's something that has bothered me for years, an

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Comment dire 'nuts'? Can anyone tell me how to translate the English word 'nuts' into French? Is there a generic term to cover various types of nuts? It's something that has bothered me for years, and I'm wondering about it today in particular having seen a translation on this site of an English-style recipe. The recipe calls for a mixture of ground nuts - walnuts,almonds, hazelnuts, brazil nuts etc. The French word 'noix' refers exclusively to a walnut, does it not? Or can it be used for 'nuts' in general? En passant, la personne qui avait essayé de traduire la recette avait écrit 'écrous'. Cela m'a fait rire... aiiiee, les dents!

Sep 3, 2014 11:57 AM

Answers · 25

Well, you just taught me something! Québécois definitely use the word "noix" meaning generic "nuts". A wallnut is a "noix de grenobles" for us. By the way, Reading xpucto's comment, we don't say "noix de pécan" either, we say "des pacanes".

September 3, 2014

Yes, the word 'noix' refers exclusively to a walnut. There is no generic term for nuts: noix, noisette, amande, cacahuète, noix de pécan etc.

September 3, 2014

Hello, Here is a link which will confirm you that there is no equivalent of nuts in french ; http://www.wordreference.com/enfr/NUT Sometimes in France, I heard people who used the word 'noix' as a generic word but it's a mistake, it's very informal. For example when they buy these kind of fruits like noisette, noix de cajou, amandes, they just say ; j'ai acheté des noix...because these are often sold in a mixed pack with dried fruit for appetizer. But most people in France specify each kind of these fruits.

September 3, 2014

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