A table with the French

The French don’t just eat—they dine. At set hours, around a table, with courses. Compared to the snacking habits of many Anglo cultures, France still holds on to structured mealtimes and long lunches (when possible...). This morning, one of my students asked me what exactly does a “typical” day of French eating look like? What an interesting question! Grab your baguette, and let’s dig in... linguistically and culturally!

Mealtimes in France: A Daily Ritual

French people usually eat three times a day:

• Le petit-déjeuner (breakfast) – between 6:30 and 9 a.m.
  It’s light: coffee or tea, a slice of baguette with butter and jam, sometimes a croissant on weekends (certainly not every morning!). No eggs and bacon here — although I do admit that I enjoy "jambon" (ham) in the morning. I personnaly replaced coffee by chicorée some years ago (more precisely, since my pregnancies). Chicorée is a hot drink made out of a plant similar to endives: chicory. It is typical from Northern France and is melted with coffee to make a caffeine-free substitute coffee (you can learn more about chicorée here).

• Le déjeuner (lunch) – around 12:00 to 1:30 p.m.
  This is the big one. A proper lunch often includes a starter, main dish, and maybe a dessert or cheese (or even both). Even in schools and workplaces, people take at least a full hour to eat. And the main dish must be hot! Cold meals are only for picnics on a day out - not for lunch. According to a study by ConsoGlobe, French people spend more than two hours a day at the table—world champions!
  

• Le dîner (dinner) – around 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
  It’s lighter than lunch, often a hot dish and a small dessert, eaten with family that relate their days at school and at work. In fact, according to Europe 1, more than 80% of French people still sit down together at least once a day.
  

Linguistic Bite: Dé-jeuner = To Break the Fast

Here’s a fun fact: the French word déjeuner comes from dé- (to undo) and jeûner (to fast). So, déjeuner literally means “break the fast”—just like breakfast in English! I bet you never noticed that!

But here’s where it gets tricky:

• If in Belgium, le déjeuner is (still) breakfast...

• In France, le déjeuner is now... lunch.

• And le dîner can mean lunch (in Belgium) or dinner (in most regions of France - when people do no speak about le souper).

  Confused? Welcome to the wild world of French language, a language that is still evolving and changing - as every spoken language!

For now, just remember the French trio:
le petit-déjeuner (breakfast) – le déjeuner (lunch) – le dîner (dinner).
And try to enjoy each one, the French way.

Why This Matters for French Learners

Understanding when and how French people eat tells you a lot about their cultures. Meals are about pleasure, not speed. They’re social, not solitary. Even the language reflects it: phrases like bon appétit, à table !, or prendre son temps are cultural cornerstones.

And what is the funniest part (in my mind), is how much French people talk about food. All the time. Before eating ("qu'est-ce qu'on mange, à midi ?"), after eating ("c'était bon ? ")... and even during the meals! "Qu'est-ce que tu manges ? Ah oui, moi, je mets des oignons à la place du poivron. J'adore cette recette ! C'est ma grand-mère qui la faisait tout le temps. Dimanche, j'ai des amis, je ne sais pas quoi cuisiner. J'ai envie de changer un peu. Mais ils annoncent de grosses chaleurs, je n'ai pas envie d'utiliser le four. Et bla bla bla bla bla... so much more about food during the whole meal!

Your Turn: What’s Your Food Routine?

Have you ever experienced a typical French meal? Did you find it long, lovely, or maybe just confusing?
What are mealtimes like in your country? Do you eat with your family? Let me know what you think and... à table !