What Does Pomme De Terre Mean In English?

“Pomme de terre” is the French word for potato. It literally translates to apple of the earth.

The term “pomme de terre” came about because early explorers brought potatoes back from the Americas to Europe. The potato, a starchy, tuberous crop, was an unfamiliar food for Europeans, and it took time for people to accept it. It was, after all, quite different from the other vegetables that they were used to.

Early European explorers, familiar with the taste and texture of apples, compared the potato to the apple due to their round shape and smooth skin. The term “pomme,” which means “apple,” was thus used to describe the potato. “Terre,” which means “earth,” was added to the term because the potato grows underground. So, “pomme de terre” literally means “apple of the earth.”

However, the term “pomme de terre” is not just a literal translation. It’s also a reflection of the historical context in which the potato was introduced to Europe. In the 16th and 17th centuries, the potato was a novel food, and people were unsure what to make of it.

The comparison to an apple, a familiar and well-loved fruit, helped to make the potato more acceptable to European palates. It gave the potato a positive connotation, making it seem more palatable and familiar. The term “pomme de terre” is a testament to the potato’s journey from a strange and unfamiliar food to a staple of European cuisine.

You’re right to be confused! It’s a bit tricky, but pommes de terre is actually just the French name for potatoes.

You’re probably thinking of the word pomme, which means apple in French. So, pommes de terre literally translates to “apples of the earth”, a poetic and descriptive way to refer to potatoes.

It’s a bit like saying “earth apples” in English, which sounds a little strange! But it makes sense when you consider that potatoes grow underground, similar to apples growing on trees.

The French have a knack for using descriptive and evocative language, so it’s no surprise that they have a fancy name for potatoes.

“Pomme de terre” is French for potato. It literally translates to “apple of the earth,” which is a pretty poetic way to describe this humble root vegetable.

The term “pomme de terre” is actually quite old, dating back to the 16th century. It was during this time that the potato, native to the Andes mountains of South America, was introduced to Europe. While it took a while for the potato to become a staple food in many European countries, its popularity quickly spread thanks to its versatility, nutritional value, and ease of cultivation.

You might be wondering why the French would call a potato an “apple of the earth.” The answer lies in the fact that potatoes were initially considered more of a curiosity than a food source. Their shape and appearance, along with their starchy texture, reminded people of apples. However, as the potato became more familiar, its association with the ground, or the “earth,” solidified its name as “pomme de terre.”

So, the next time you’re enjoying a delicious potato dish, remember that you’re eating something with a rich and fascinating history, something that was once considered an exotic fruit from a distant land.

“Pomme” in French means apple. It’s a word with a rich history, tracing back to the Middle French “pomeis”, which is the plural form of the (assumed) earlier “pomey”. This “pomey” is thought to be a variation of “pomme” itself.

Let’s delve a bit deeper into the fascinating world of the French word “pomme”. The word’s origins lie in the Latin “pomum,” which means “fruit” in general. It wasn’t just limited to apples; “pomum” encompassed various fruits. Over time, the Latin word morphed into “pomme” in French, eventually becoming the specific term for the apple.

This linguistic journey highlights the evolution of language. What began as a general term for “fruit” in Latin evolved into a specific term for “apple” in French. The transformation showcases how words can evolve and adapt over time, reflecting cultural shifts and changes in usage. It’s a testament to the dynamic nature of language, constantly adapting to its surroundings and evolving to meet new needs.

It’s interesting to think about why the French call potatoes apples of the earth. While the exact reason is a bit of a mystery, we can trace it back to the early days of the potato’s arrival in Europe.

Pomme de terre, the French term for potato, literally translates to apple of the earth. It’s not entirely clear why they made this connection, but the Dutch use a very similar term, aardappel, which also means apple of the earth. This suggests that the name likely arose from a shared understanding of the potato’s characteristics during a time when the vegetable was new to European culture.

Early descriptions of the potato often focused on its round shape and the fact that it grew underground, similar to how apples grow on trees. It’s possible that people saw these similarities and used the familiar term “apple” to describe the unfamiliar potato.

The first known written use of pomme de terre was by Henri Louis Duhamel du Monceau, a botanist, in 1762. He was one of the first people to study and document the potato in detail, and his writings helped to introduce the potato to wider audiences.

By the time Duhamel du Monceau was writing about the potato, it was already becoming a popular food source in France. The potato’s versatility and nutritional value made it a valuable addition to the French diet, and the name pomme de terre stuck.

So, while we might not know exactly why the French call potatoes apples of the earth, we can see that the name reflects the potato’s early arrival in Europe, its unique characteristics, and its gradual acceptance into European culture. It’s a reminder of how language evolves and reflects our understanding of the world around us.

The most widely accepted theory is that pommy is a shortened version of pomegranate. This explanation suggests that pomegranate was a slang term for immigrant in Australia, similar to how Jimmy Grant became synonymous with arrant.

So, how did pomegranate become slang for immigrant in Australia? Well, it’s a classic case of rhyming slang, a form of slang where a two-word phrase replaces a single word, and the two words rhyme. Australians have a rich history of using rhyming slang, and pomegranate was simply the rhyming slang for immigrant in this case.

The connection between pomegranate and immigrant isn’t entirely clear, but some speculate that it was related to the idea of immigrants bringing their own fruits and vegetables to Australia, with pomegranate being a particularly exotic and visually striking fruit.

While it’s unlikely that the origins of pommy are rooted in a single event or explanation, the rhyming slang theory is the most compelling and well-supported explanation. It fits with the Australian use of rhyming slang and the historical context of immigration to the country.

The word pomme comes from the Old French word for “apple”: pome (12th century; modern French is pomme). This word itself came from the Late Latin or Vulgar Latin word poma, meaning “apple”. Poma was originally the plural of the Latin word pomum, which meant “fruit”. Over time, pomum came to specifically refer to “apple”.

So, the word pomme has a long and interesting history! It’s a great example of how words can evolve over time and take on new meanings. It’s also a reminder that language can be a powerful tool for understanding the world around us.

As you can see, the word pomme is not just a random word; it has a rich history and a fascinating connection to the apple itself. It’s a testament to the fact that language is constantly evolving and that words have the power to tell stories.

English translation of ‘pomme de terre’ – Collins Online Dictionary

English Translation of “POMME DE TERRE” | The official Collins French-English Dictionary online. Over 100,000 English translations of French words and phrases. Collins Dictionary

POMME DE TERRE in English – Cambridge Dictionary

noun. potato [noun] a type of plant with round underground stems (called tubers) which Cambridge Dictionary

pomme de terre translation in English | French-English dictionary

pomme de terre translation in French – English Reverso dictionary, see also ‘pomme, Reverso

pommes de terre translation in English | French-English dictionary …

Translation French – English Collins Dictionary. “pommes de terre”: examples and Reverso

pomme de terre – Translation from French into English | PONS

Look up the French to English translation of pomme de terre in the PONS online PONS Online Dictionary

pomme de terre – English translation – Linguee

Dictionary French-English. pomme de terre noun, feminine (plural: pommes de terre f) Linguee

POMME DE TERRE – Translation in English – bab.la

Translation for ‘pomme de terre’ in the free French-English dictionary and many other bab.la