croque-monsieur
In French, croque refers to a toasted sandwich with melted cheese and ham, specifically the croque-monsieur.
A croque-monsieur is a toasted sandwich with melted cheese and ham. Related idiomatic expressions include Croquer dans, which means taking a bite out of something and Croquer la vie, which means to embrace life to the fullest.
Which one should you use?
A croque-madame is a variation of the croque-monsieur that is topped with a fried egg.
How does it change in a sentence?
In modern French usage, the word croque-monsieur is often treated as an invariable noun, meaning it does not change form in the plural.
Did you know?
- The croque-madame uses a fried egg to visually mimic a woman's hat, which was a common fashion accessory when the name was coined.
- The name of the sandwich is an onomatopoeia, meaning it is a word that mimics the sound of eating it. It captures the literal sound of 'crunching' through the toasted bread.
- While 'monsieur' is a formal way to address a gentleman, in the context of this sandwich, it is a playful nickname rather than a respectful gesture.
Examples in context
- Aimes-tu les croque-monsieur ?Do you like croque-monsieurs?This sentence is useful for asking if someone likes croque-monsieur.Tatoeba #9133529 by Julien_PDC, translation #10704182 by AlanF_US
- Je vais croquer dans ce délicieux sandwichI am going to bite into this delicious sandwich
- Il aime croquer la vie à pleines dentsHe enjoys embracing life to the fullest
- Je vais préparer un délicieux croque-monsieurI am going to prepare a delicious croque-monsieur
- Nous avons mangé des croques au restaurantWe had croque-monsieurs at the restaurant
- Je voudrais un croque-monsieur, s'il vous plaît.I would like a croque-monsieur, please.
- Ce croque-monsieur est vraiment délicieux.This croque-monsieur is really delicious.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
At a small café during lunch.
- LéaGabriel, tu veux manger quoi ?Gabriel, what do you want to eat?
- GabrielJe vais prendre un croque-monsieur.I am going to have a croque-monsieur.
- LéaBon appétit, mon grand !Enjoy your meal, dear!
- GabrielMerci Léa, c'est gentil.Thanks Léa, that's kind.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
