petits pois: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, culinary.
Quick answer
What does “petits pois” mean?
A variety of garden pea where the peas are small, sweet, and typically sold and cooked in their pods.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A variety of garden pea where the peas are small, sweet, and typically sold and cooked in their pods.
By extension, can refer to small, green peas of high quality, often found canned or frozen. The term is sometimes used generically for small, sweet peas in culinary contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More common in British English, often seen on menus and in supermarkets. In American English, it's a more specialized culinary term, with 'sweet peas' or just 'peas' being more common in everyday speech.
Connotations
In both varieties, it conveys a sense of quality, delicacy, and French culinary sophistication. It may sound slightly more pretentious in American English.
Frequency
Higher frequency in UK English, especially in written contexts like recipes and product descriptions.
Grammar
How to Use “petits pois” in a Sentence
[verb] + petits pois (e.g., cook, serve, prepare)[adjective] + petits pois (e.g., fresh, frozen)petits pois + [prepositional phrase] (e.g., with butter, from France)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “petits pois” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- We need to pod these petits pois before dinner.
- She prefers to petits pois her peas fresh from the garden.
American English
- The recipe calls for you to petits pois the peas if they're fresh.
- He carefully petits poised the peas for the salad.
adjective
British English
- (Used attributively) a petits pois variety
- the petits pois harvest was excellent this year.
American English
- (Rarely used adjectivally) Look for the petits pois style peas in the freezer section.
- It's a classic petits pois dish.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in the food import/export, retail, and hospitality industries to specify a product type.
Academic
Rare, except in historical culinary studies or botany discussing pea cultivars.
Everyday
Used when discussing cooking, shopping for specific ingredients, or dining in restaurants.
Technical
Used in horticulture to classify a specific cultivar of pea (Pisum sativum var. saccharatum) and in professional cooking.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “petits pois”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “petits pois”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “petits pois”
- Mispronouncing 'pois' as /pɔɪz/ (like 'poise') instead of /ˈpwɑː/.
- Using it as a singular noun (e.g., 'a petits pois'). It is always plural.
- Misspelling as 'petit pois' (singular) when referring to the peas themselves.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is grammatically plural in English, despite the French 'petit' being singular. You say 'these petits pois are...', not 'this petits pois is...'.
'Petits pois' refers to a specific variety of pea harvested young when the peas are very small, sweet, and tender. Regular 'garden peas' can be larger and starchier.
In English, it is commonly pronounced /ˈpwɑː/, approximating the French but without the final /s/ sound. The 's' is silent.
No, the standard English term is 'petits pois'. Using 'petit pois' (singular in French) would be a mistake in English, though it might be understood.
A variety of garden pea where the peas are small, sweet, and typically sold and cooked in their pods.
Petits pois is usually formal, culinary. in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(none specific to this term)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'petite' (small) 'pois' (sounds like 'pwah', French for pea) – small peas.
Conceptual Metaphor
FOOD AS REFINEMENT / QUALITY AS SIZE (smaller is more delicate and premium).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'petits pois' MOST appropriately used?