French word

betterave

Pronunciation

IPA/bɛtəʁav/

Meaning

  • feminine nounbeet

Example

La betterave est rouge.

The beet is red.

Illustration for betterave (beet)

More examples

Je rôtis la betterave au four.

I roast the beet in the oven.

Core concept

A bulbous underground beet whose dark color marks it as a familiar food or sugar crop.

Common phrases

  • betterave rôtie

    roasted beet

  • salade de betteraves

    beet salad

  • cuire la betterave

    cook the beet

Similar words

pomme de terre: A starchy underground vegetable boiled, baked, or fried as a staple or side dish.
carotte: An elongated orange root eaten raw or cooked in salads and savory dishes.
radis: A small red or white root with a mildly peppery taste, often eaten raw.
navet: A pale, rounded underground root used in stews and sauces.

Definition in French

Désigne la racine comestible de Beta vulgaris, souvent de couleur rouge foncé et utilisée en cuisine ou, pour certaines variétés, pour la fabrication du sucre.

Word origin

The word betterave developed through Old French from a compound of Latin beta, meaning beet, and rapa, meaning turnip.

Usage tips

  • French distinguishes varieties with phrases such as betterave rouge for the edible red beet and betterave sucrière for sugar beet.

Other meanings

  • sugar beetnoun

Word lists with this word