La Citrouille vs. Le Potiron: What’s the Difference?
What is the difference between the two different French words for pumpkin, la citrouille and le potiron? Check out the answer inside!
Got questions about French language and culture? Every week on the Talk in French newsletter, I answer questions sent by readers.
Here I’m sharing one that I answered a while ago, but it’s quite relevant at this time of the year.
Let’s check out the question:
« What is the difference between the two different words for pumpkin, la citrouille and le potiron? Are they synonymous, or is there a difference? » Kaleigh
Here’s my answer:
La citrouille and le potiron are very similar actually. But there are some differences.
Appearance
Citrouilles are often round, while many potirons are flatter. But size and shape vary by variety: potirons can be very large, so “smaller” versus “bigger” is not a reliable distinction. Citrouilles are often used for Halloween decorations.
Names
Both are types of squash. In the usual botanical distinction, la citrouille belongs to Cucurbita pepo, while le potiron belongs to Cucurbita maxima. “Winter squash” is a broader English category that includes several species, rather than another name exclusively for potiron.
Taste
Le potiron tastes a bit sweeter and in general, tastier than citrouille. La citrouille is stringier (filandreux) than le potiron. Le potiron is more popular for cooking in France. In fact, I am a big fan of « la soupe de potiron ».
Conclusion
I hope this clarifies the difference between la citrouille and le potiron. Remember that size and shape vary by variety. Citrouille is often used for Halloween, while potiron is popular in dishes such as la soupe de potiron.
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