Why is a plum called a prune in French, and a grape called a raisin?

So, in French,

a plum is called a prune, and

a grape is called a raisin.

Why is that??? And what do they call a prune or a raisin?

Why is a plum called a prune in French, and a grape called a raisin?
"Prune" and "raisin " are the original French names for the fresh fruit. "Prune" comes from the Latin "prunum" and plums were imported as dried fruit in England under the original name. The word "plum" came via Germanic/Anglo -Saxon "Pflaume" which supplanted the word "prune" when plum trees were planted in England. The term "grape" comes from the Norman French where a bunch of grapes is called "une grappe de raisins".

In modern French a dried plum is "un pruneau" and a dried grape "un raisin".
Reply:A plum in French is prune or pruneau and grapes are raisins, the same way framboise is written raspberry in English and fraise is Strawberry.



My take on it is that the word grape probably comes from the French word Grappe, because we say "Une grappe de raisins". Which basically describes the cluster of grapes or whatever you want to call it.



As for plum, maybe it's because of the color it has or maybe it inspired the color name. I don't know.



You can however search the words etymology to get more ample information.
Reply:Prune is "pruneau" and raisin is "raisin sec" in French.



I think it may be a question of the French dealing a great deal in the fresh fruit, while many other people have to put up with the dried variety. At the time we inherited these words from French, we only saw the dried fruit shipped over from warmer climates.

I buy dried fruit quite a lot and exactly the same commodity (depending on the make) is sold either as "plums" (which sounds nice) or "prunes", which reminds me of school.
Reply:huh??? well a plum is called a prune when its been dried? same goes for a grape when it is dried its called a raisin???



plums are plums and grapes are grapes?????
Reply:plum = pruneau or prune ( no french cares wich one you choose to use :P )



grapes = Raisins ( as plurial with an "s" )



EXEMPLE:

Je mange des raisins et toi?

I eat grapes and you?