French french food & wine culture vocabulary
40 words at level C1, with English translations and example sentences. Nouns are given with their article so you learn the gender too.
| French | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| la gastronomie | gastronomy | La gastronomie française est inscrite au patrimoine de l'UNESCO. |
| le terroir | local land, regional character (of produce) | Ce vin exprime son terroir. |
| l'appellation (f.) | (wine/cheese) designation | une appellation d'origine contrôlée |
| le cépage | grape variety | |
| le vignoble | vineyard | |
| la vendange | grape harvest | |
| le millésime | vintage | Un excellent millésime. |
| le sommelier | sommelier | |
| la dégustation | tasting | une dégustation de vins |
| déguster | to savour, to taste | |
| corsé | full-bodied | |
| fruité | fruity | |
| sec | dry (wine) | |
| moelleux | sweet (wine); soft | |
| l'apéritif, l'apéro (m.) | pre-dinner drinks | On se fait un apéro ? |
| l'amuse-bouche (m.) | appetiser | |
| le plateau de fromages | cheese board | |
| affiné | matured (cheese) | |
| le chef étoilé | Michelin-starred chef | |
| la brasserie | brasserie | |
| le bistrot | bistro | |
| le traiteur | caterer, deli | |
| la charcuterie | cured meats; delicatessen | |
| la viennoiserie | pastries (croissants etc.) | |
| la pâtisserie | pastry; cake shop | |
| le marché de producteurs | farmers' market | |
| de saison | in season | des légumes de saison |
| le savoir-faire | know-how, craftsmanship | |
| mijoter | to simmer | Laissez mijoter deux heures. |
| flamber | to flambé | |
| napper | to coat (with sauce) | |
| le fond de sauce | stock | |
| la cuisine du terroir | regional home cooking | |
| le fait maison | homemade (food) | |
| gourmand | fond of good food; greedy | |
| gourmet | gourmet, connoisseur | |
| se régaler | to really enjoy (food) | On s'est régalés ! |
| avoir l'eau à la bouche | to make one's mouth water | |
| mettre les petits plats dans les grands | to go to great lengths (for guests) | |
| le digestif | after-dinner drink |
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