Being vegan in France is hard work and it isn’t made any easier by devious restaurateurs trying to brush veganism off as a joke. You can see my previous posts on this subject here and here.

Can I swap…

Unlike other countries, French chefs do not take kindly to you asking if you can substitute meat in their dishes for a non-meat alternative however I always like to ask just to irritate them lol.

If you’re going to France and are a vegetarian or vegan, you might just have to learn how to speak some of the lingo, so here are some vegan French phrases to help you out.

vegan french phrases

I am vegetarian – Je suis vegetarian. Pronounced: je swee veg-et-ar-ien

I am vegan – Je suis vegetalien.  Pronounced: je swee veg-et-al-ien

I do not eat fish – Je ne mange pas de poisson. Pronounced: je ne monj pa duh pwa-son

I do not eat meat – Je ne mange pas de viande. Prounced: je ne monj pa duh viond.

Asking questions

Is there any meat in this dish? – Y-at-il de la viande dans ce plat? Pronounced: Ee a-teel duh la viond don suh pla?

Are there any animal products in this dish? – Y-at-il des produits d’origine animale dans ce plat? Pronounced: Ee a-teel day prod-wee dor-i-jeen a-nee-mal don suh pla?

What type of oil was used to fry the chips? Quel type d’huile on a utilisé pour frire les frites? Pronounced: Kel teep duh wheel on a oot-a-lees-ay pour freer les freet.

Does this mayonnaise have eggs in it? Cette mayonnaise contient des ouefs? Pronounced: Cet mayonnaise con-tien des erfs. 

Can I swap the meat for tofu? – Puis-je echanger la viande pour le tofu? Pronounced: Puh-wee juh ay-chang-ay la viond pour luh to-foo.

Dessert questions

Is that dessert made with milk? – Le dessert, est-il fait avec du lait? Pronounced: Luh des-er, eh t’il fay avec doo lay?

Does the flan have eggs in it? – Le flan contient-il des ouefs? Pronounced: Luh flon con-tien il days erfs? 

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