French word

igname

Pronunciation

IPA/iɲam/

Meaning

  • feminine nounyam

Example

Je vais cuisiner de l'igname ce soir.

I'm going to cook some yam tonight.

Illustration for igname (yam)

More examples

Je vais acheter de l'igname au marché.

I'm going to buy some yam at the market.

Core concept

A dense tropical root crop whose cooked tuber supplies substantial starch in a meal.

Common phrases

  • faire cuire l'igname

    cook yam

  • acheter de l'igname

    buy yam

Similar words

pomme de terre: A common starchy tuber peeled and used in many household dishes.
patate douce: A starchy root with strongly colored skin or flesh and a sweet taste.
manioc: A thick underground root processed or cooked to make starch or flour.
taro: An edible root eaten boiled or steamed for its soft, sticky texture.

Definition in French

Plante tropicale dont on consomme le tubercule riche en amidon, utilisé comme source d'énergie dans l'alimentation locale.

Word origin

The French noun igname is a borrowing from Portuguese inhame, a term adopted from an African language for these tubers.

Usage tips

  • The gn in igname has the palatal sound heard in French montagne, rather than separate g and n sounds.

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