viande de cheval
The English phrase "horse meat" is viande de cheval in French.
viande de cheval refers to the flesh of a horse used as food.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of viande (meat) and de cheval (of horse).
Which one should you use?
Viande équine and Viande chevaline are formal alternatives. Viande chevaline is used specifically to refer to horse meat produced for human consumption.
How does it change in a sentence?
When you want to say "some horse meat" using a partitive article, the phrase is preceded by de la to form de la viande de cheval.
Did you know?
- Historically, eating viande de cheval in France was associated with the working class and poverty before it became a gourmet curiosity.
- The word viande actually stems from the Latin word for 'things to be lived' or 'provisions', which is why it originally referred to any kind of food rather than just flesh.
- Because horse meat is leaner than beef, it is often paired with a sauce gribiche or heavy creams in traditional French regional cooking to add moisture.
Examples in context
- Il s'est avéré que le bœuf haché contenait de la viande de cheval.The ground beef was found to contain horse meat.Tatoeba #9978548 by lbdx, translation #2587043 by Hybrid
- Je n’ai jamais mangé de la viande de cheval.I have never eaten horse meat.Tatoeba #4445367 by Wezel, translation #2952131 by CK
- Excusez-moi, pourriez-vous me dire où je peux trouver de la viande de cheval?Excuse me, could you please tell me where I can find horse meat?
- La viande de cheval est parfois vendue en Italie.Horse meat is sometimes sold in Italy.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas and Emma are looking at a restaurant menu.
- LucasRegarde, ils servent de la viande de cheval ici.Look, they serve horse meat here.
- EmmaC'est étrange, je n'en ai jamais goûté.That's strange, I've never tasted it.
- LucasTu veux essayer un plat à la viande de cheval ?Do you want to try a horse meat dish?
- EmmaNon merci, je préfère le poulet.No thanks, I prefer chicken.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cheval, de, viande, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
