Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| petit déjeuner | /pə.ti de.ʒœ.ne/ /pə.ti deʒ.ne/ |
France, masculine |
| déjeuner | /de.ʒœ.ne/ /de.ʒø.ne/ |
Belgium, Switzerland, masculine |
This term refers to the first meal of the day. To express the action of eating the morning meal as a verb phrase, use prendre le petit-déjeuner.
Which one should you use?
In France, petit déjeuner refers specifically to the morning meal, while déjeuner refers to lunch. However, in Belgium and Switzerland, déjeuner is commonly used to mean the first meal of the day.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Belgium and Switzerland, déjeuner is used for breakfast. In Quebec, the informal term for breakfast is le déjeuner.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the verb 'to have breakfast' or 'to eat breakfast', French speakers typically use the construction prendre le petit déjeuner.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /pə.ti de.ʒœ.ne/. It has 4 syllables.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use déjeuner to mean breakfast in France, but in standard French, déjeuner is the midday meal (lunch).
When do people say it?
A traditional breakfast in Quebec might include les crêpes de blé d'Inde (cornmeal pancakes) or les fèves au lard (baked beans).
Did you know?
- The word déjeuner literally means 'to break a fast', coming from the prefix dé- and the verb jeûner meaning 'to fast'.
- A traditional Quebec breakfast often features les crêpes de blé d'Inde, which are pancakes made from cornmeal rather than wheat.
- The word petit in petit déjeuner is not just a descriptor for 'small', but serves to distinguish the morning meal from the larger midday meal.
Examples in context
- Le déjeuner est servi.Breakfast is served.This sentence shows how to use déjeuner in a sentence.Tatoeba #4547381 by sacredceltic, translation #2245012 by CK
- Le petit-déjeuner est prêt.Breakfast is ready.Tatoeba #567252 by sacredceltic, translation #277773 by CK
- Je viens de petit-déjeuner.I've just finished eating breakfast.Tatoeba #1051441 by sacredceltic, translation #1891192 by CK
- Je voudrais commander le petit-déjeuner à la chambre, s'il vous plaît.I would like to order breakfast in the room, please.
- 467 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas and Emma are in their kitchen in the morning.
- LucasTu veux prendre le petit déjeuner ?Do you want to have breakfast?
- EmmaOui, j'ai très faim.Yes, I am very hungry.
- LucasJe prépare le petit déjeuner pour nous deux.I am preparing breakfast for both of us.
- EmmaC'est gentil, Lucas, merci !That's kind, Lucas, thank you!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “breakfast” translations and entries petit déjeuner, déjeuner, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries déjeuner, petit, petit déjeuner, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
