French for Beginners: Asking 'What is your favorite food?' and Answering
Learn to ask others about their favorite food in French and answer the question yourself, using common food vocabulary and the verb 'préférer'.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
In this lesson, you will learn how to ask someone 'What is your favorite food?' in French and how to answer that question. This is different from simply stating your own preferences because you are asking about another person's tastes. You will practice the question form 'Quel est ton plat préféré ?' and the answer 'Mon plat préféré est...' or 'J'aime...'. You will also learn common food words and how to use the verb 'préférer' (to prefer). By the end, you will be able to have a short conversation about favorite foods.
By the end, you can…
- ask someone what their favorite food is in French.
- answer the question about my favorite food.
- name at least five common foods in French.
- use the verb 'préférer' correctly in the present tense.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Quel est ton plat préféré ?
What is your favorite dish?
kel eh tɔ̃ pla pʁe-fe-ʁe
Use this informal question with friends, family, or people your age. 'Ton' is the informal possessive adjective for 'your' (singular).
Quel est votre plat préféré ?
What is your favorite dish?
kel eh vɔtʁ pla pʁe-fe-ʁe
Use this formal question with strangers, elders, or in professional settings. 'Votre' is the formal possessive adjective.
Mon plat préféré est le poulet rôti.
My favorite dish is roast chicken.
mɔ̃ pla pʁe-fe-ʁe eh lə pu-lɛ ʁo-ti
This is a straightforward answer. You can replace 'le poulet rôti' with any food. Note that 'le' is used before the food name.
J'adore les pâtes.
I love pasta.
ʒa-dɔʁ le pat
Use 'J'adore' to express strong liking. 'Les' is the plural definite article used before plural foods.
J'aime bien le fromage.
I quite like cheese.
ʒɛm bjɛ̃ lə fʁɔ-maʒ
'J'aime bien' means 'I like' but is softer than 'J'adore'. Use 'le' before masculine singular food nouns.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To ask about favorite food, use 'Quel est ton/votre plat préféré ?' The word 'quel' means 'what' or 'which' and agrees with the masculine noun 'plat'. If you want to ask about a specific type of food, you can say 'Quelle est ta cuisine préférée ?' (What is your favorite cuisine?). To answer, use 'Mon plat préféré est...' or 'Ma cuisine préférée est...'. For example: 'Mon plat préféré est la pizza.' (My favorite dish is pizza.) Notice that the possessive adjective 'mon' or 'ma' agrees with the noun: 'mon plat' (masculine) but 'ma cuisine' (feminine).
When to use it
Use the informal 'ton' with people you know well, such as friends, family, and classmates. Use the formal 'votre' with people you don't know, older people, or in professional contexts. For example, ask a friend: 'Quel est ton plat préféré ?' but ask a new acquaintance: 'Quel est votre plat préféré ?'. When answering, you can also use 'J'aime...' or 'J'adore...' to express your preference. For instance: 'J'aime le chocolat.' (I like chocolate.) or 'J'adore les fruits de mer.' (I love seafood.) Remember that after 'j'aime' or 'j'adore', you need the definite article (le, la, les) before the food.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Salut ! Quel est ton plat préféré ?
Hi! What is your favorite dish?sa-ly! kɛl ɛ tɔ̃ pla pʁe-fe-ʁeMon plat préféré est le couscous. Et toi ?
My favorite dish is couscous. And you?mɔ̃ pla pʁe-fe-ʁe ɛ lə kus-kus. e twaMoi, j'adore la pizza. J'aime aussi les sushis.
Me, I love pizza. I also like sushi.mwa, ʒa-dɔʁ la pid-za. ʒɛm o-si le su-ʃiSuper ! Tu aimes la cuisine italienne ?
Great! Do you like Italian cuisine?sy-pɛʁ! ty ɛm la kɥi-zin i-ta-ljɛnA little context goes a long way
In France, food is a central part of social life, and asking about favorite dishes is a common conversation starter. However, be aware that in formal situations, it's polite to use 'votre' instead of 'ton'. Also, in some regions like Quebec, the question might be phrased slightly differently, such as 'Quel est ton mets préféré ?' using 'mets' instead of 'plat'. Both are correct, but 'plat' is more common in France.
One thing to watch for
Saying 'Quel est ton plat préféré ?' to someone you just met in a formal context.
Try this instead: Use the formal 'votre' instead: 'Quel est votre plat préféré ?'. For example, when speaking to a waiter or an older person, always use 'votre' to show respect.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you ask a friend 'What is your favorite dish?' in French?
Show a sample answer
Quel est ton plat préféré ?
This uses the informal 'ton' because you are asking a friend. The formal version would be 'Quel est votre plat préféré ?'.
2Translate: 'My favorite dish is pasta.'
Show a sample answer
Mon plat préféré est la pasta. / Mon plat préféré, ce sont les pâtes.
'Les pâtes' is plural, so 'Mon plat préféré est les pâtes' is awkward. Use 'Mon plat préféré, ce sont les pâtes' or rephrase with a singular dish: 'Mon plat préféré est la pasta.'
3What is the difference between 'J'aime' and 'J'adore'?
Show a sample answer
'J'aime' means 'I like', while 'J'adore' means 'I love' (stronger).
Both are used to express preferences, but 'J'adore' indicates a stronger affection. For example, 'J'aime le fromage' vs. 'J'adore le fromage'.
To ask about favorite food, use 'Quel est ton/votre plat préféré ?' and answer with 'Mon plat préféré est...' or 'J'aime/J'adore...'. Remember to use the correct possessive adjective (ton for informal, votre for formal) and the definite article before food names.
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