beignet
/bɛ.ɲɛ/
The French word for donut is beignet.
In many French-speaking regions, beignet is used as a broad category for various types of fried dough, including those filled with cream or jam, which are not typically called 'donuts' in English.
Which one should you use?
While beignet is the general term for fried dough confections, it often refers to a variety of fritters that may not be ring-shaped, unlike the specific English concept of a 'donut'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In parts of Belgium and Switzerland, the term boule de Berlin is used to refer to a jelly-filled donut with no hole.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural of beignet is beignets.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables and is pronounced /bɛ.ɲɛ/.
Did you know?
- The word beignet shares an unexpected ancestor with the English word 'bunion', the painful swelling on a toe.
- In New Orleans, beignets are typically square pillows of dough topped with a heavy dusting of powdered sugar rather than being ring-shaped.
- In some regions, beignets can be savory, such as those made with salt and pepper or containing cheese, moving beyond the sweet 'donut' category.
Examples in context
- Je veux un beignet.I want a donut.This sentence shows how to express a desire for one beignet.Tatoeba #5688386 by Aiji, translation #2011292 by CK
- J'ai mangé un beignet.I ate a donut.This sentence is useful for describing the action of eating a beignet.Tatoeba #6400187 by Aiji, translation #5858056 by CK
- Puis-je avoir ce beignet ?Can I have this donut?This sentence demonstrates how to ask for a specific beignet.Tatoeba #6210384 by Aiji, translation #3327804 by CK
- Je voudrais un beignet aux myrtillesI would like a blueberry donut.
- Je vais manger un donut ce matinI'll eat a donut this morning.
- J'aime les beignets glacésI like glazed donuts.
- Je voudrais un beignet aux fraises, s'il vous plaîtI would like a strawberry donut, please.
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Manon and Gabriel are at a bakery.
- ManonGabriel, regarde ce beignet rose !Gabriel, look at this pink donut!
- GabrielIl a l'air très bon.It looks very good.
- ManonJe vais prendre ce beignet.I am going to take this donut.
- GabrielD'accord, moi je prends un café.Okay, I'll have a coffee.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry beignet, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries beignet, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
