carte des boissons
The English phrase "drink menu" is translated into French as carte des boissons.
In many French restaurants, if you are specifically looking for wine, you would ask for la carte des vins rather than the general drink menu.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase carte des boissons is composed of carte (menu/map), des (of the) and boissons (drinks).
Which one should you use?
While la carte can refer to the entire menu (including food), la carte des boissons specifically isolates the drink selection.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Quebec, Canada, you may hear menu des consommations used interchangeably with formal expressions for a drink menu.
Did you know?
- In many formal French dining settings, you might see the term la carte used for the full selection of food, but if you ask for le menu, you are actually asking for a fixed-price meal deal.
- The word carte is a cognate of the English word 'chart'. Both terms share a root that originally referred to a leaf of papyrus or a piece of parchment.
- The French word carte is used for both a drink menu and a geographical map, as both are essentially visual guides or lists of a territory.
Examples in context
- Excusez-moi, puis-je voir la carte des boissons ?Excuse me, may I see the drink menu?
- Avez-vous une liste des boissons disponibles ?Do you have a list of drinks available?
- La carte des boissons, s'il vous plaît.The drink menu, please.
- Puis-je voir la carte des boissons ?May I see the drink menu?
- Où est la carte des boissons ?Where is the drink menu?
Example conversation
Hugo and Emma are sitting at a restaurant table.
- HugoEmma, est-ce que tu as la carte des boissons ?Emma, do you have the drink menu?
- EmmaNon, je ne l'ai pas.No, I don't have it.
- HugoJe vais demander au serveur.I will ask the waiter.
- EmmaC'est une bonne idée, Hugo.That is a good idea, Hugo.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries carte, des, CC BY-SA 4.0.
