French word

tonka

Pronunciation

IPA/tɔ̃ka/

Meaning

  • feminine nountonka bean

Example

On sent la tonka dans ce parfum.

You can smell the tonka bean in this perfume.

Illustration for tonka (tonka bean)

More examples

J'ai acheté des fèves de tonka au marché.

I bought tonka beans at the market.

Core concept

A dry aromatic bean whose warm sweetness combines vanilla, almond, and a resinous depth.

Similar words

arôme: A characteristic aroma in food or fragrance, or a distinctive food flavor.
vanille: A sweet, warm scent and flavoring used in confectionery and perfume.
amande: A sweet, nut-like edible seed used in cooking and food products.
parfum: A liquid fragrance used to scent the body or objects.

Definition in French

Petit fruit sec aromatique provenant d'un arbre sud-américain, dont la fève apporte un parfum vanillé employé en parfumerie et parfois en pâtisserie.

Word origin

French tonka is borrowed from Portuguese tonka, a South American name of Tupi origin.

Usage tips

  • Tonka is feminine in French, so standard forms include la tonka and une fève tonka.

Word lists with this word