croissant
standard
In French croissant sounds like "kwah-SAHN". The first syllable has a "kw" sound, the second one is a nasal vowel, and the final t is silent.
In a bakery you would ask for un croissant or, for several, deux croissants. The plural is spelled with an s and sounds the same.
Meaning: crescent shaped pastry (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
Start with croi, which sounds like "krwah", with the French r made at the back of the throat. The ending -ssant is a nasal an sound, like "sahn" without a hard n.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often say "kruh-SANT" or "cross-ANT", sounding the final t. In French the t is not pronounced.
When do people say it?
The word croissant means "crescent" in French, which describes the shape of the pastry.
Did you know?
- The word croissant is also the French word for the shape of the moon in its first quarter, un croissant de lune.
Examples in context
- Un croissant, s'il vous plaît.A croissant, please.
- Je prends un café et deux croissants.I will have a coffee and two croissants.
- Le croissant est tout chaud.The croissant is still warm.
Example conversation
Emma orders breakfast at a café in Paris with the waiter Antoine.
- AntoineBonjour, vous désirez?Hello, what would you like?
- EmmaUn croissant et un café, s'il vous plaît.A croissant and a coffee, please.
- AntoineTrès bien.Very good.
