un croissant
To say one croissant in French, say un croissant.
In French un means both a and one, so un croissant covers both. A polite way to order is Je voudrais un croissant, s'il vous plaît. A simpler option is Je prends un croissant, which means I'll take one croissant.
What does it mean word for word?
un is the masculine form of one, used because croissant is a masculine noun.
Which one should you use?
Un p'tit croissant is a casual way to say a little croissant.
How does it change in a sentence?
For more than one, use des croissants, meaning some croissants.
Did you know?
- Despite being the global symbol of French baking, the ancestor of the croissant was actually the 'kipferl', a crescent roll created in Austria.
- While they are synonymous in English, a croissant au beurre is made with butter and is usually straight, whereas a croissant ordinaire is made with margarine and is curved.
- The word croissant does not actually mean 'crescent'. It is the present participle of the verb croître, meaning 'growing', referring to the waxing moon.
Examples in context
- Je voudrais un croissant, s'il vous plaît.I would like one croissant, please.
- Est-ce qu'il reste un croissant ?Is there one croissant left?
- Il me faut un croissant pour le petit-déjeuner.I need one croissant for breakfast.
Example conversation
Emma and Gabriel are at a bakery.
- EmmaBonjour, je voudrais un croissant.Hello, I would like one croissant.
- GabrielTrès bien, Madame. Autre chose ?Very well, Madam. Anything else?
- EmmaNon merci, c'est tout.No thank you, that is all.
- GabrielC'est deux euros, s'il vous plaît.That is two euros, please.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries croissant, un, CC BY-SA 4.0.
