vin de maison
The English phrase "house wine" is translated into French as vin de maison. Wiktionary also lists vin de pays.
Meaning: a relatively inexpensive wine sold in restaurants (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA |
|---|---|
| vin de maison | |
| vin de pays | /vɛ̃ d(ə) pɛ.i/ /vɛ̃ d(ə) pe.i/ |
In a restaurant setting, you can refer to the establishment's specific selection using vin de maison. When asking for the specific wine of that establishment, you might use the phrase le vin de la maison.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase vin de maison is composed of vin (wine), de (of) and maison (house).
Which one should you use?
While vin de maison refers specifically to the selection of the establishment, vin de pays is often used in restaurants to refer to a simple, regional wine or a country wine.
Did you know?
- While vin de maison refers to the house choice, the French use the same word maison to describe a fashion brand or a perfume company, such as a maison de couture.
- In France, vin de pays is not just a description but a specific legal category of wine with regulations regarding its origin and production.
- The word maison in vin de maison shares its roots with the English word 'mansion', as both stem from the Latin word for a place where one stays or remains.
Examples in context
- Au restaurant, je voudrais un verre de vin de la maison, s'il vous plaît.At the restaurant, I would like a glass of house wine, please.
- Je vais prendre un vin de maison.I will have a house wine.
Example conversation
Emma and Gabriel are ordering drinks at a bistro.
- EmmaQu'est-ce que tu veux boire, Gabriel ?What do you want to drink, Gabriel?
- GabrielJe vais prendre le vin de maison.I'll have the house wine.
- EmmaC'est une bonne idée, je prends la même chose.That's a good idea, I'll have the same.
- GabrielParfait, on commande maintenant.Perfect, let's order now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “house wine” translations and entries vin de maison, vin de pays, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, maison, pays, vin, CC BY-SA 4.0.
