The correct words for: watermelon & seedless watermelon.

I would like to know the correct word for the fruit watermelon and also for seedless watermelon. I want to know what French speakers use and not just a literal translation.

Please see these possibilities:

Watermelon:

melon d'eau

pasteque?

Seedless watermelon:

pasteques sans pepins

pasteque asperme

melon d'eau sans pepins

What is correct translation for:

"May contain an occasional seed."

Does this work?

"Peuvent contenir une graine occasionnels."

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Permalink Reply by Erwan on April 21, 2011 at 7:49am

In French, watermelon is pastèque but I believe that Canadians call it Melon d'eau.
As of seedless watermelon, your propositions seem to be right. the two first are used in French, the third should be used in French Canadian.

Your translation is a litteral one (but with a spelling mistake on occasionnelle). But I think that you'll probably read Peuvent contenir occasionnellement/éventuellement une/des graine(s)

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Permalink Reply by Catherine da Cunha on April 21, 2011 at 6:43pm

Erwan, thank you so much! You have answered my questions perfectly. I wanted to know the difference in usage between French French and Canadian French. Melon d'eau is a literal translation and I was curious to know if it was really used. Your explanation of the "may contain" was just what I needed. I have used Google translation, but was not able to be sure the grammar was correct.

I work in the produce packaging and we often need to add French to labels. I appreciated your help. Thank you and merci beaucoup! Catherine

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Permalink Reply by Ed la mouette on April 24, 2011 at 10:21am

Here some examples that can be found on food packages :

- Malgré le soin apporté, une arête peut subsister (about a salmon piece sold as "fish-bone free", for example)

- Présence éventuelle d'arachide.

- Ce produit est fabriqué dans un atelier qui utilise : oeuf, fruits à coque, soja.