cream cheese
masculine
In French, cream cheese is referred to as cream cheese or fromage en crème.
Meaning: milk-based cheese product (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | Note |
|---|---|
| cream cheese | masculine |
| fromage en crème | masculine |
The term refers to a milk-based cheese product.
Which one should you use?
While fromage en crème is a valid term, fromage à la crème is often the more common way to express the concept of cream cheese in many culinary contexts. Additionally, cream cheese is used as a term in French.
Did you know?
- The term crème has roots that stretch back to the Greek word khrîsma, which originally described an anointing oil rather than a dairy product.
- Because cream cheese is not a traditional staple of ancient French gastronomy, the language frequently adopts the English term cream cheese as a loanword in modern supermarkets.
- While 'cream cheese' is understood, many French speakers use the term fromage frais for soft, spreadable cheeses, even if they are not technically 'cream' based.
Examples in context
- Je voudrais une tarte au fromage à la crème, s'il vous plaît.I would like a cream cheese tart, please.
- Quiche au fromage à la crème et aux épinardsQuiche with cream cheese and spinach
- Où puis-je trouver du fromage à la crème ?Where can I find cream cheese?
Example conversation
Hugo and Léa are preparing bagels in the kitchen.
- HugoLéa, où est le cream cheese ?Léa, where is the cream cheese?
- LéaIl est dans le réfrigérateur, Hugo.It is in the refrigerator, Hugo.
- HugoMerci, je vais en mettre sur mon bagel.Thanks, I'm going to put some on my bagel.
- LéaMoi aussi, j'adore le cream cheese.Me too, I love cream cheese.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cream cheese” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries crème, en, fromage, CC BY-SA 4.0.
