courgette: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Everyday, formal/informal culinary contexts
Quick answer
What does “courgette” mean?
The long, green, cylindrical fruit of a variety of marrow, eaten as a vegetable when young.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The long, green, cylindrical fruit of a variety of marrow, eaten as a vegetable when young.
Refers specifically to the immature fruit of certain cultivars of Cucurbita pepo, typically harvested when 20-25cm long.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
British English uses 'courgette'. American English uses 'zucchini'.
Connotations
'Courgette' is standard and neutral in the UK/Commonwealth. 'Zucchini' is standard and neutral in the US.
Frequency
Highly frequent in UK cooking/retail contexts. The term 'zucchini' is understood but not used in the UK.
Grammar
How to Use “courgette” in a Sentence
grow [courgettes]slice [the courgette]add [the courgettes] to [the pan]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “courgette” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- a courgette bake
- courgette fritters
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in agricultural reports, supermarket retail, and food import/export documentation.
Academic
Used in botanical, horticultural, and nutritional science texts.
Everyday
Common in cooking, shopping, gardening conversations, and recipe instructions.
Technical
Used in seed catalogues, agricultural guidelines specifying Cucurbita pepo cultivars.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “courgette”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “courgette”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “courgette”
- Using 'courgette' in American English texts.
- Confusing 'courgette' (immature) with 'marrow' (mature).
- Misspelling as 'courgettee' or 'courgete'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A courgette is a young, immature marrow, typically harvested when 20-25cm long and with tender skin and seeds. A marrow is the mature fruit, larger, with tougher skin and more developed seeds.
While it may be understood by some, it is not the standard term. 'Zucchini' is universally used and expected in American English contexts.
Botanically, it is a fruit (the mature ovary of a flowering plant). However, in culinary and everyday usage, it is treated and referred to as a vegetable.
It is a loanword from French, where it is a diminutive of 'courge', meaning 'gourd' or 'marrow'.
The long, green, cylindrical fruit of a variety of marrow, eaten as a vegetable when young.
Courgette is usually everyday, formal/informal culinary contexts in register.
Courgette: in British English it is pronounced /kʊəˈʒɛt/, and in American English it is pronounced /kʊrˈʒɛt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
COURGETTE rhymes with 'vette' (as in Corvette), and both are long and sleek. Imagine a green Corvette made of courgettes.
Conceptual Metaphor
PLANT IS A PRODUCER (courgette plant 'produces' courgettes)
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a synonym for 'courgette' in American English?