à point
/a pwɛ̃/
The English phrase "medium rare" is translated into French as à point.
This adjective is used to describe meat that is cooked somewhat lightly.
Meaning: cooked somewhat lightly (adj)
Which one should you use?
The term à point refers to medium-rare/medium, whereas saignant is used for a rare steak.
How do you pronounce it?
/a pwɛ̃/
Did you know?
- While à point describes a state of readiness, the word point is also used in French to express a strong negation. Adding it to a sentence can turn 'I am not' into 'I am certainly not'.
- While à point translates to medium or medium-rare, French diners use bleu for an extra-rare steak. This describes meat that is seared quickly on the outside but remains cool and red inside.
- French has a specific word for the opposite of à point when meat is overcooked: trop cuit. Unlike English, where 'well-done' is often a preference, trop cuit implies a failure in the kitchen.
Example sentences for French are not verified yet.
Example conversation
A couple is ordering dinner at a restaurant.
- ChloéHugo, comment veux-tu ton steak ?Hugo, how do you want your steak?
- HugoJe le préfère à point, Chloé.I prefer it medium rare, Chloé.
- ChloéD'accord, je vais commander pour nous deux.Okay, I will order for both of us.
- HugoMerci beaucoup, c'est très gentil.Thank you very much, that's very kind.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “medium rare” translations and entries à point, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
