French word

pain

Pronunciation

IPA/pɛ̃/

Meaning

  • masculine nounbread

Example

Je mange du pain tous les matins.

I eat bread every morning.

Illustration for pain (bread)

More examples

J'ai acheté du pain à la boulangerie ce matin.

I bought bread at the bakery this morning.

Core concept

A baked staple with a firm crust and soft interior, appearing as a whole loaf, a baguette, or a small roll.

Common phrases

  • acheter du pain

    buy bread

  • une tranche de pain

    a slice of bread

  • pain complet

    whole-wheat bread

  • pain grillé

    toast

Similar words

baguette: A long, thin French bread with a firm outer crust.
tranche: A thin piece cut from a loaf of bread.

Definition in French

Aliment de base obtenu en cuisant une pâte de farine, d'eau et de sel, souvent fermentée; le mot peut désigner la miche entière, une baguette ou un petit pain selon le contexte.

Word origin

French pain comes from Latin panis through Old French, continuing an inherited word for bread.

Usage tips

  • Un pain usually refers to one whole loaf or unit, while du pain refers to an unspecified amount, as in Je mange du pain.

Word lists with this word