croissant au beurre
The English phrase "butter croissant" is translated into French as croissant au beurre.
A croissant au beurre refers to a flaky, crescent-shaped pastry made with butter.
Which one should you use?
In French bakeries, the term croissant au beurre is used specifically to distinguish high-quality pastries made with pure butter from those made with margarine, which are often labeled as croissant ordinaire.
Did you know?
- In France, the shape of the croissant au beurre often tells you what is inside. Straight-shaped croissants are usually pure butter, while curved ones are often the ordinaire margarine version.
- While synonymous with France, the ancestor of the croissant is actually the Austrian kipferl, a denser bread roll that the French refined into a flaky pastry.
- The French word for butter, beurre, originates from the Ancient Greek word boútūron, which literally meant 'cow-cheese'.
Examples in context
- Je voudrais un croissant au beurre, s'il vous plaît.I would like a butter croissant, please.
- Est-ce que ce croissant au beurre est frais ?Is this butter croissant fresh?
- Elle a acheté un croissant au beurre pour le petit-déjeuner.She bought a butter croissant for breakfast.
Example conversation
Gabriel and Manon are at a bakery.
- GabrielQu'est-ce que tu veux manger, Manon ?What do you want to eat, Manon?
- ManonJe vais prendre un croissant au beurre.I will have a butter croissant.
- GabrielMoi aussi, j'adore ça !Me too, I love those!
- ManonC'est le meilleur petit-déjeuner.It is the best breakfast.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries beurre, croissant, CC BY-SA 4.0.
