aide de cuisine
The English phrase "kitchen helper" is translated into French as aide de cuisine.
The term refers to a person who assists a chef or cook with basic tasks in a kitchen.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of aide (helper/assistant), de (of) and cuisine (kitchen/cooking).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
aide de cuisine is the standard term used in formal job descriptions and professional contexts. Another way to express this is Commis de cuisine, which is a formal way to say 'kitchen helper'.
Did you know?
- In a professional French kitchen, a commis de cuisine is not just a helper but the bottom rung of the brigade de cuisine, a military-style hierarchy created by Auguste Escoffier.
- The term commis comes from the French verb commettre, meaning 'to entrust'. It implies that the helper has been entrusted with the care of a specific station in the kitchen.
- The word cuisine is a cognate of the English word 'kitchen'. Both words share a common ancestor in the Latin word coquīna, which comes from the root for 'cooking'.
Examples in context
- Le commis de cuisine a préparé les ingrédients.The kitchen helper prepared the ingredients.
- L'aide-cuisinier est responsable de la préparation des plats.The kitchen helper is responsible for dish preparation.
- L'aide de cuisine est en train de préparer le dessert.The kitchen helper is preparing dessert.
- Le commis coupe les légumes.The kitchen helper cuts the vegetables.
- Le commis de cuisine nettoie la station de travail.The kitchen helper cleans the workstation.
- L'aide-cuisinier prépare les plats selon les instructions du chef.The kitchen helper prepares dishes according to the chef's instructions.
- L'aide de cuisine est très doué en pâtisserie.The kitchen helper is very skilled in pastry-making.
- Le commis fait toujours de délicieuses sauces.The kitchen helper always makes delicious sauces.
- Il cherche un aide de cuisine pour ce soir.He is looking for a kitchen helper for tonight.
- Mon frère travaille comme aide de cuisine.My brother works as a kitchen helper.
- L'aide de cuisine prépare les légumes.The kitchen helper is preparing the vegetables.
Example conversation
Chloé and Gabriel are talking about a new job at a restaurant.
- ChloéTu as trouvé un travail, Gabriel ?Did you find a job, Gabriel?
- GabrielOui, je suis aide de cuisine maintenant.Yes, I am a kitchen helper now.
- ChloéC'est super ! Est-ce que c'est difficile ?That's great! Is it difficult?
- GabrielOui, mais j'adore aider le chef.Yes, but I love helping the chef.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries aide, cuisine, de, CC BY-SA 4.0.
