How do You Say White and Dark Meat in French? đŸ„©

Author: Camille Chevalier-Karfis

In the US “white meat” often refers to poultry only. In French “la viande blanche” also includes veal, rabbit, porc… 

The other day, I was talking to a semi-vegetarian student who said “je ne mange que de la viande blanche”.

Guessing something was wrong, I replied tongue in cheek: “so, you eat veal”???

Nooooooo” she answered, horrified. “Only chicken and seafood”.

Aha! We had stumble over a huge “lost in translation” kind of situation… So let’s talk meat a little!

1 – White Versus Red Meat

For the French, it’s a question of “myoglobin“. “Myoglobin is an iron- and oxygen-binding protein found in the muscle tissue of vertebrates in general and in almost all mammals” says Wikipedia. Follow the link to know more…

This myoglobin is more present in muscles that need endurance, like say the ones of a duck which needs to fly over long distances, versus the ones of a chicken who is more sedentary, and therefore presents a much lighter flesh color.

On top of the genetic reason, food is also important: a calf drinking cow milk, which is poor in iron and therefore doesn’t fix myoglobin will have a white flesh, when a calf raised outside and eating grass as well as drinking milk will have a darker flesh…

2 – What’s Considered White or Red Meat In France

So, in France, most will agree to list:

  • Under white meat: pork, chicken, rabbit, veal.
  • Under red meat: beef, horse, duck, lamb, venison (actually, some people even refer to game meats as “les viandes noires”)

If you are semi-vegetarian, and eat only poultry and seafood, say “je mange seulement du poulet et des produits de la mer“.

Stay away from the actual meat color altogether.

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3 – White Meat and Dark Meat for Chicken in French?

And what about chicken meat?

Well, the translation again is quite different, we’d say “vous prĂ©fĂ©rez l’aile ou la cuisse ?

  • “L’aile” (the wing) is referring to the white meat (in France, the breast most often served attached to the wing),
  • “la cuisse” (the thigh) to the dark meat.

If you enjoy learning French language and culture in context, check out French Today’s downloadable French audiobooks: French Today’s bilingual novels are recorded at different speeds and enunciation, and focus on today’s modern glided French pronunciation.

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Author: Camille Chevalier-Karfis

Camille Chevalier-Karfis

Born and raised in Paris, I have been teaching today's French to adults for 25+ years in the US and France. Based on my students' goals and needs, I've created unique downloadable French audiobooks focussing on French like it's spoken today, for all levels. Come to Paimpol and enjoy an exclusive French immersion homestay with me in Brittany.

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