French Vocabulary for Vegans and Vegetarians

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Last Updated: June 5, 2023

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French cuisine is all about lots of lusciously meaty dishes. What would you expect from the land that birthed steak tartare, foie gras and hearty meat stews like boeuf bourguignon and cassoulet?

But alas, if you have turned away from eating meat and embraced vegetarianism or veganism due to one reason or another, don’t worry, you will still be able to survive a visit or even a long stay in France.

For starters, you can use this useful list of French words and phrases that are truly helpful as a vegan or vegetarian.

French Vocabulary for Vegan

Plus, we have a second part of this article: 

7 Ways to Survive as a Vegan or Vegetarian in France

You can also check out my e-book called Paris for Foodies. It's got a section dedicated to vegan and vegetarian restaurants in Paris.

Download this list in PDF

No time to go through the whole list now? Don't worry, you can also download this list in PDF by clicking the button below. 

How to convey your dietary restrictions in French

It can be difficult to explain in your own language that you cannot eat meat or other types of food. Imagine how hard it could be to say it in a foreign language like French! Thankfully, we prepared a list of words and terms you can readily draw from to inform people of your special diet. 

Here are the French words and phrases to memorize.

Végétalien(ne)vegan
Végétarien(ne)vegetarian
Je suis un végétarien(ne)I am a vegetarian
Je ne mange pas de viande, de porc ou de pouletI do not eat meat, pork or chicken
Je mange des Å“ufs, du lait et du fromageI eat eggs, milk and cheese
Je suis un végétalien(ne)I am a vegan
Je ne mange ni d'Å“ufs ni de lait I do not eat eggs, milk
Je suis au régime I have a special diet
Je ne peux pas manger de.... I can't eat...
Je ne mange que...I only eat...
Avez-vous des plats végétariens?Do you have any vegetarian dishes?
Y a-t-il un restaurant végétarien près d'ici?Is there a vegetarian restaurant near here?
Je mange que des légumes, céréales et grains.I only eat vegetables, cereals and grains.
Je ne mange pas de produits issus des animaux ou de leur exploitation ni de miel, oeufs ou laitage et ses dérivés.I don't eat any animal by-products, neither honey, eggs nor dairy and its derivatives.

Vegan / Vegetarian French Vocabulary

Now for this part, learn French words for foods that are commonly restricted in special diets. 

Avoine (f)Oats
Bio (m)Organic
Blé (m)Wheat
Céréales (f)Cereals
CoeliaqueCeoliac
Lentilles (f) Lentils
Lentilles verts (f)Green lentils
Farine Noir (f) Flour (wholemeal)
Fromage (f)Cheese
Gélatine (f)Gelatine
Germes de soja (m)Beansprouts
Haricots (m)Haricots (m)
Noisette (f)Hazelnut
Noix (f)Walnuts
Lait (m) Milk
Boulgour (m)Bulguar wheat
Gluten (m)Gluten
Soja (m)Soja (m)
Tofu (m)Tofu
Cajous (m)Cajous (m)
Cajous (m) Sprouts
Pois chiche (m)Chickpea
Magasin diététique (m) Health Food Shop
Oeuf (m)Egg
Produits laitiers (m)Produits laitiers (m)
Sans graisse animaleWithout animal fat
Without animal fat Buckwheat
Viande (f)Viande (f)

Conclusion

Being vegan or vegetarian already has a lot of challenges. Hopefully with this article, you'll be able to dine in France with less difficulty. 

For more related articles, check out the following: 

Eating out in France: the Ultimate Guide to Ordering Food Like a Local

115 French Food and Drinks Vocabulary

How to Read and Understand a French Menu

Want more French vocabulary? 

Grab your copy of the most comprehensive French vocabulary review e-book below! 

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About the author 

Frederic Bibard is the founder of Talk in French, a company that helps french learners to practice and improve their french. Macaron addict. Jacques Audiard fan. You can contact him on Instagram

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