Le primeur

N. Hilary (Shamrockhill) W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Le primeur

The only word with which I was unfamiliar was "le primeur".  

I looked it up on the online Collins French-English dictionary and only found the feminine noun, "la primeur" which gave the defintion: "avoir la primeur information" ie; "To be the first to know."

It also lists "primeurs": plural feminine noun as: (=fruits, legumes) "Early fruits and vegetables";

"marchand de primeurs" : "greengrocer", (Brit)/"produce dealer" (USA)

But no definition for "le primeur".

My LaRousse dictionary, (not online but the real book), has only the feminine "la primeur".

Google translate gave the definition, "the scoop" as in a news story, but when I looked up "scoop" in both Collins and LaRousse all I found were definitions relating to a scoop such as an ice cream scoop; or "une exclusivite" again as in the news.

From the definitions of "marchands de primeur" and "les primeurs" I was able to deduce the meaning of "le primeur".

May I suggest if a word is obscure, such as this one, that you provide the definition. It would be helpful.  Although, I must confess that after searching as I did, I will retain the meaning of 'la primeur'; "les primeurs"; "le primeur" and the translation for a news "scoop". 

And, I admit that much of my knowledge of French has been attained in the same way while reading the many greats of French literature - looking up words in my LaRousse (English to French/French to English); then looking up those same words in my LaRousse French dictionary to read the definition in French.



Asked 2 years ago
CécileNative French expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Hi Shamrockhill,

Interesting question and it has caught out students before. In my time, a greengrocer would have called a 'marchand de légumes' but the term used nowadays is 'primeur'.

Take a look at the following page with examples of the term.

https://www.avisdegourmets.com/paris/primeur

Hope this helps!

N. Hilary (Shamrockhill) W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Thank you Cecile. I appreciate your response. And, those photos of "les primeurs a Paris" are great. The food looks delicious. And, the recipes, too!

Le primeur

The only word with which I was unfamiliar was "le primeur".  

I looked it up on the online Collins French-English dictionary and only found the feminine noun, "la primeur" which gave the defintion: "avoir la primeur information" ie; "To be the first to know."

It also lists "primeurs": plural feminine noun as: (=fruits, legumes) "Early fruits and vegetables";

"marchand de primeurs" : "greengrocer", (Brit)/"produce dealer" (USA)

But no definition for "le primeur".

My LaRousse dictionary, (not online but the real book), has only the feminine "la primeur".

Google translate gave the definition, "the scoop" as in a news story, but when I looked up "scoop" in both Collins and LaRousse all I found were definitions relating to a scoop such as an ice cream scoop; or "une exclusivite" again as in the news.

From the definitions of "marchands de primeur" and "les primeurs" I was able to deduce the meaning of "le primeur".

May I suggest if a word is obscure, such as this one, that you provide the definition. It would be helpful.  Although, I must confess that after searching as I did, I will retain the meaning of 'la primeur'; "les primeurs"; "le primeur" and the translation for a news "scoop". 

And, I admit that much of my knowledge of French has been attained in the same way while reading the many greats of French literature - looking up words in my LaRousse (English to French/French to English); then looking up those same words in my LaRousse French dictionary to read the definition in French.



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