How to Say 'I Like' and 'I Don't Like' Foods in French
Learn the French verbs aimer and détester to express personal food preferences, with common food vocabulary and polite forms for everyday conversation.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
Expressing what you like and dislike is one of the first truly useful skills in a new language. In French, this goes beyond simply naming a food: you need the right verb form and, in most cases, a definite article. This lesson teaches you to say 'I like' and 'I don't like' about common foods, using the verbs aimer and détester. You will also learn the stronger form je n'aime pas du tout and the polite je n'aime pas beaucoup. By the end, you will be able to talk about your own preferences at a table, in a café or at a friend's home.
By the end, you can…
- say that I like a specific food using j'aime + definite article.
- say that I don't like a food using je n'aime pas + definite article.
- ask someone whether they like a food using tu aimes or vous aimez.
- use stronger and softer expressions such as je déteste and je n'aime pas beaucoup.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
J'aime le fromage.
I like cheese.
zhem luh fruh-MAHZH
Use le for masculine singular foods. The s in fromage is silent.
Je n'aime pas les épinards.
I don't like spinach.
zhuh nem pah lay zay-pee-NAR
Les is the plural definite article. The n'aime liaison sounds like 'nem'.
Tu aimes le chocolat ?
Do you like chocolate?
tew em luh shoh-koh-LAH
Informal question to a friend or family member. Rising intonation marks the question.
Vous aimez la cuisine française ?
Do you like French cuisine?
voo zay-may lah kwee-ZEEN frahn-SEZ
Polite or plural form. Vous aimez links with a z sound.
Je déteste les oignons.
I hate onions.
zhuh day-TEST lay zoh-NYON
Détester is stronger than ne pas aimer. Use it for strong dislike, not mild preference.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is je + aime / n'aime pas + definite article + food. French normally requires the definite article (le, la, l', les) where English often uses no article: J'aime le pain ('I like bread'), J'aime la soupe ('I like soup'), J'aime les tomates ('I like tomatoes'). The article agrees with the noun's gender and number, so learn each food word with its article: le pain, la salade, l'eau, les fruits.
When to use it
Use j'aime for a general preference and je n'aime pas for a general dislike. To soften a dislike, say je n'aime pas beaucoup ('I don't like it much'). To be emphatic, use je déteste or je n'aime pas du tout ('I don't like it at all'). In a shop or restaurant, you can also say j'aime bien, which is friendly and slightly less intense than j'aime. Note that the article must match the noun's number: use les with plural foods, as in Je n'aime pas les champignons.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Tu aimes le poisson ?
Do you like fish?tew em luh pwah-SONOui, j'aime beaucoup le poisson. Et toi ?
Yes, I like fish a lot. And you?wee, zhem boh-KOO luh pwah-SON. ay twahJe n'aime pas le poisson, mais j'aime les légumes.
I don't like fish, but I like vegetables.zhuh nem pah luh pwah-SON, may zhem lay lay-GEWMAlors, je peux préparer une salade. Tu aimes la salade ?
Then I can prepare a salad. Do you like salad?ah-LOR, zhuh puh pray-pah-RAY ewn sah-LAD. tew em lah sah-LADA little context goes a long way
In France, j'aime bien is common and often sounds more natural than a bare j'aime in casual conversation; it can suggest 'I quite like it' rather than a passionate statement. In Quebec and other Francophone regions, the same structures are used, but food vocabulary may differ (for example, les patates for potatoes in informal Quebec French). When you are a guest, saying je n'aime pas beaucoup is usually more polite than je déteste.
One thing to watch for
Saying J'aime fromage without an article, by translating English word for word.
Try this instead: French normally needs a definite article after aimer: J'aime le fromage. Choose le, la, l' or les according to the noun: J'aime la salade, J'aime l'eau, J'aime les fruits.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'I like soup' in French?
Show a sample answer
J'aime la soupe.
Soupe is feminine singular, so it takes la. J'aime la soupe is the standard general preference. J'aime bien la soupe is also correct and slightly softer.
2Translate: 'I don't like mushrooms.'
Show a sample answer
Je n'aime pas les champignons.
Champignons is plural, so use les. The negative wraps around the verb: ne + aime + pas. Je n'aime pas les champignons is the natural form.
3Ask a friend politely whether they like French cheese.
Show a sample answer
Tu aimes le fromage français ?
Use tu aimes for a friend, with rising intonation for the question. For a more formal situation, use Vous aimez le fromage français ? Both are correct; the choice depends on your relationship with the person.
Learn each food word with its article, then use j'aime / je n'aime pas + article + food. Soften with beaucoup or bien, strengthen with déteste or du tout, and match le, la, l' or les to the noun.
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