canelés
plural
The French word canelés names a small pastry with a dark, caramelized crust and a soft, custardy center. One pastry is a canelé. The word is pronounced roughly kah-nuh-LAY.
Meaning: small French pastry with a caramelized crust and a soft center (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | Note |
|---|---|
| canelés | plural |
| canelé | singular |
You will see canelés in French bakeries and cafés, especially as a specialty of Bordeaux. The full name is canelés de Bordeaux. Each pastry is baked in a fluted mold and flavored with vanilla and rum.
How does it change in a sentence?
The singular is un canelé and the plural is des canelés. The final s is silent, so both sound the same.
How do you pronounce it?
Stress the last syllable, ka-nuh-LAY, and the final s is not pronounced. In quick speech the middle vowel is often dropped, giving something close to kan-LAY.
Did you know?
- Canelés are traditionally associated with Bordeaux and are baked in fluted molds, which give the pastry its ridged sides.
Examples in context
- Je voudrais deux canelés, s'il vous plaît.I would like two canelés, please.
- Les canelés sont une spécialité de Bordeaux.Canelés are a specialty of Bordeaux.
- Ce canelé est encore chaud.This canelé is still warm.
Example conversation
Julie buys pastries from the Baker in a bakery in Bordeaux.
- JulieBonjour, je voudrais quatre canelés, s'il vous plaît.Hello, I would like four canelés, please.
- BakerBien sûr. Ils sortent du four.Of course. They just came out of the oven.
- JulieParfait, merci beaucoup.Perfect, thank you very much.
