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mandarine

mandarin (orange)

noun mahn-dah-REEN Rare
Food & Drink Fruits

Origin: French from Spanish 'mandarina', named after the Mandarin Chinese.

Also means

mandarin (language)

Usage Note

Mandarine in everyday French means the small citrus fruit — une mandarine — distinct from une orange. The plural des mandarines is common at winter markets. As a borrowing from Chinese culture, the word also appears in compounds like le canard mandarin (Mandarin duck).

Examples

"Elle épluche une mandarine après le déjeuner."

Natural Translation

She peels a mandarin after lunch.

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