Bocal vs. pot
In French, both bocal and pot can translate to "jar" or "container" in English, but they are not always interchangeable. The primary difference lies in their material, shape, and intended use. A bocal is almost exclusively made of glass and is typically used for preserving food or keeping contents visible. On the other hand, a pot is a much broader term that can refer to containers made of glass, plastic, clay, or metal, and is used for a wide variety of everyday items ranging from food to cosmetics and plants.
Bocal
A bocal refers to a glass jar, usually with a wide mouth and a lid, designed for canning, preserving food, or displaying its contents. It is the direct equivalent of a mason jar, a preserving jar, or a glass bowl for a pet fish.
Elle conserve ses légumes du jardin dans un grand bocal en verre.
(She preserves her garden vegetables in a large glass jar.)
Ma grand-mère a ouvert un bocal de cerises pour le dessert.
(My grandmother opened a jar of cherries for dessert.)
Le poisson rouge tourne en rond dans son bocal.
(The goldfish swims in circles in its bowl.)
J'ai acheté un bocal de cornichons au supermarché.
(I bought a jar of pickles at the supermarket.)
Il a rempli le bocal avec des biscuits pour les enfants.
(He filled the jar with cookies for the children.)
Pot
A pot is a versatile and general term for a jar, pot, or container made of any material, including plastic, clay, metal, or glass. It is commonly used for everyday consumables like yogurt, jam, and honey, as well as non-food items like plants, paint, and beauty creams.
Nous avons presque terminé ce pot de confiture de fraises.
(We have almost finished this jar of strawberry jam.)
Elle mange un pot de yaourt tous les matins au petit-déjeuner.
(She eats a pot of yogurt every morning for breakfast.)
Il me faut un nouveau pot de fleurs pour décorer le balcon.
(I need a new flower pot to decorate the balcony.)
J'ai oublié de fermer le pot de peinture après avoir fini le mur.
(I forgot to close the can of paint after finishing the wall.)
Elle a acheté un petit pot de crème hydratante pour le visage.
(She bought a small jar of moisturizing face cream.)
Les stylos sont soigneusement rangés dans le pot sur mon bureau.
(The pens are neatly stored in the holder on my desk.)
Summary
To summarize, you should use bocal when talking about a glass jar used for food preservation, canning, or keeping items visible. You should use pot when referring to a general-purpose container made of any material, commonly used for everyday foods like yogurt and jam, or household items like plants, paint, and cosmetics.