soupe aux haricots
The English phrase "bean soup" is translated into French as soupe aux haricots.
This phrase refers to a soup where beans serve as a primary ingredient.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "soup with the beans". The word aux is a contraction of à (meaning with or to) and les (the).
Which one should you use?
soupe aux haricots is the most common way to name this dish. You may also use soupe de haricots, which is grammatically correct and describes a soup made of beans.
How does it change in a sentence?
The preposition aux is used because haricots is plural. While you would use au haricot if referring to a single bean, the plural form is the standard way to describe this soup.
Did you know?
- The word haricot is not native to France and was borrowed from the Spanish word 'alharico', which itself came from the Arabic 'al-kharik'.
- The word soupe originally referred not to a liquid, but to the piece of bread used to soak up juices or broth. This comes from the Late Latin word suppa, describing the act of soaking bread.
- While soupe aux haricots is general, the famous cassoulet from the south of France is essentially a slow-cooked bean stew that functions as a regional version of this dish.
Examples in context
- Bonjour! Puis-je avoir la soupe de haricots, s'il vous plaît?Hello! Can I have the bean soup, please?
- J'adore préparer le potage aux haricots pour mes invités.I love making bean soup for my guests.
- On se retrouve chez moi pour déguster un délicieux potage de légumes aux haricots.Let's meet at my place to enjoy a delicious vegetable soup with beans.
- La soupe aux haricots est délicieuse.The bean soup is delicious.
- Je voudrais une soupe aux haricots, s'il vous plaît.I would like a bean soup, please.
- Elle prépare une soupe aux haricots pour le dîner.She is making a bean soup for dinner.
Example conversation
Hugo and Manon are deciding what to eat at a café.
- HugoQu'est-ce que tu veux manger ?What do you want to eat?
- ManonJe vais prendre la soupe aux haricots.I will have the bean soup.
- HugoBon choix, elle a l'air très bonne.Good choice, it looks very good.
- ManonOui, j'ai très faim aujourd'hui.Yes, I am very hungry today.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries aux, soupe, CC BY-SA 4.0.
