frites

American  

[freet] / frit /

plural noun

French.

1. French fries.

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Usage

What does frites mean? Frites are French fries. Frites is the French word for French fries. In English-speaking countries, frites is used on menus to indicate that the fries are prepared in the Belgian or French style. But more often the word is simply used to make them sound fancier. Frites is typically used in the plural. Example: True Belgian frites are cut to a certain thickness and are usually squared off at the ends.

Example Sentences

But the city is one of the most multicultural in the world, and there’s a lot more to its food than steak frites.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

For now, it’s all about steak frites and martinis.

From Salon • Oct. 18, 2025

Where to eat: Toasted is a reliable mini-chain with truffle steak frites, crispy chicken sandwiches and local Ballast Point Sculpin.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 16, 2024

Or try All Water Seafood and Oyster Bar, which serves seafood classics with Pacific Northwest flair, from seared halibut and seafood chowder to king salmon, moules frites and local oysters on the half-shell.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 6, 2023

Down you go, and fall foul of ham, beef, pommes de terre frites, jonny-cakes, and café sans lait; and generally, in despite of bad cooking and occasional lee-lurches, contrive to eat an enormous meal.

From A Ramble of Six Thousand Miles through the United States of America by Ferrall, S. A. (Simon Ansley)