Meaning & use
fruits de mer
Last updated
Meaning
nounpluralformal
Seafood, especially a mixed dish of shellfish such as mussels, oysters and prawns, as listed on a menu.
Grammar: Takes a plural verb in practice: the fruits de mer were fresh.
Patterns
- a platter of fruits de mer
- fruits de mer salad
We ordered a platter of fruits de mer to share.
The restaurant is known for its fruits de mer, served on crushed ice.
She skipped the meat and chose the fruits de mer pasta.
Common combinations
- platter of fruits de mer
- A platter of fruits de mer arrived at the table.
- fruits de mer salad
- The fruits de mer salad had squid and prawns.
- fresh fruits de mer
- The coastal cafe serves fresh fruits de mer daily.
- fruits de mer risotto
- He ordered a fruits de mer risotto.
Synonyms and how they differ
- seafood
- Seafood is the everyday word and covers fish as well, while fruits de mer suggests shellfish on a French-style menu.
- shellfish
- Shellfish names animals with shells, so it is closer in meaning but plainer in style.
- surf
- Surf appears in surf and turf and is more informal.
Word family
Commonly confused: fruits de mer or fruit?
fruits de mer vs fruit
Despite the name, fruits de mer has nothing to do with fruit; it means seafood.
Practice
A menu offers fruits de mer. What would you expect to be served?
Choose one answer.
Fruits de mer means fruits of the sea, that is, seafood. The fruit-based options are tempting because of the word fruit.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “fruits de mer”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.