cocktail
/kɔk.tɛl/masculine
The English phrase cocktail is cocktail in French.
The term cocktail refers to an alcoholic beverage. It can also refer to a cold appetizer consisting of seafood and sauce, such as a cocktail de crevettes.
Meaning: alcoholic beverage (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /kɔk.tɛl/ and has two syllables.
Did you know?
- While cocktail is common, French speakers often use the word apéritif or apéro to refer to the pre-dinner drinks ritual, which is a deeply ingrained cultural institution rather than just a drink choice.
- In some French contexts, prendre un cocktail can be a polite euphemism for a professional networking meeting held after work hours.
- In French, the word cocktail is used to describe the dress code 'cocktail attire' as tenue de cocktail, which specifically implies a level of formality between 'business casual' and 'black tie'.
Examples in context
- J'aimerais un cocktail de crevettes.I'd like a shrimp cocktail.This sentence is useful for ordering a shrimp cocktail using cocktail.Tatoeba #2306115 by sacredceltic, translation #2304734 by Hybrid
- J'envisage de me rendre à sa soirée cocktail.I plan to go to her cocktail party.This sentence is useful for mentioning a cocktail party using cocktail.Tatoeba #1038221 by sacredceltic, translation #1037486 by CN
- Ce soir, nous pouvons nous retrouver au bar à cocktail de l'hôtel.This evening we can meet in the cocktail lounge of the hotel.This sentence is useful for discussing a cocktail lounge using cocktail.Tatoeba #9847971 by lbdx, translation #3641549 by karloelkebekio
- Je vais prendre un cocktail. Peut-être un mojito ?I'll have a cocktail. Maybe a Mojito?
- Moi, je préfère un apéro à base de gin.I prefer a gin-based apéritif.
- Tu veux venir prendre un verre avec moi ?Do you want to grab a drink with me?
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chloé and Lucas are at a terrace bar in the evening.
- ChloéQuel cocktail me conseilles-tu, Lucas ?Which cocktail do you recommend, Lucas?
- LucasCe cocktail aux fruits est excellent.This fruit cocktail is excellent.
- ChloéD'accord, je vais commander celui-là.Okay, I will order that one.
- LucasTrès bon choix pour une soirée d'été !Very good choice for a summer evening!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cocktail” translations and entries cocktail, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
