chardonnay
/ʃaʁ.dɔ.nɛ/masculine
The English phrase chardonnay is translated into French as chardonnay.
When you wish to order a glass of this wine, a common way to express this is by saying un verre de chardonnay.
Meaning: wine (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some regions, the term chardonnet may be used to refer to chardonnay.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun is masculine, so it is used with the masculine indefinite article un (e.g., un chardonnay).
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables and is pronounced /ʃaʁ.dɔ.nɛ/.
Did you know?
- While chardonnay is a global brand, French wine laws often forbid the word from appearing on labels of wines from the Burgundy region, where it must be listed under the name of the village or vineyard.
- The word chardonnay shares a linguistic root with the French word chardon, which means 'thistle'. This connection likely refers to the prickly appearance of the grapevines or the vegetation in the village of origin.
- A French sommelier might describe a chardonnay as beurré, which translates to 'buttery'. This does not mean butter was added, but refers to a specific chemical process called malolactic fermentation.
Examples in context
- Puis-je avoir un verre de chardonnay, s'il vous plaît?May I have a glass of chardonnay, please?
- J'adore le chardonnay de Bourgogne.I love Burgundy chardonnay.
- Pourriez-vous me recommander un bon cru de chardonnay?Could you recommend a good chardonnay vintage?
- Le chardonnay est un cépage blanc très populaire.Chardonnay is a very popular white grape variety.
- Je préfère le chardonnay bien frais en été.I prefer chilled chardonnay in the summer.
- Le chardonnay est très frais.The chardonnay is very fresh.
- Je préfère boire un chardonnay.I prefer to drink a chardonnay.
- Ce chardonnay a un bon goût.This chardonnay tastes good.
Example conversation
Emma and Gabriel are ordering drinks at a restaurant.
- EmmaQu'est-ce que tu veux boire, Gabriel ?What do you want to drink, Gabriel?
- GabrielJe vais prendre un chardonnay.I will have a chardonnay.
- EmmaC'est un bon choix pour ce poisson.That is a good choice for this fish.
- GabrielOui, j'adore le chardonnay.Yes, I love chardonnay.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “chardonnay” translations and entries chardonnay, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries chardonnay, CC BY-SA 4.0.
