roux
/ʁu/
The French word roux means roux.
A roux is a mixture of fat (usually butter) and flour used to thicken sauces and stews.
Meaning: mixture of fat (usually butter) and flour used to thicken sauces and stews (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun roux is masculine, so it is used with the masculine article un (as in un roux). Additionally, roux is an invariable noun, meaning its spelling does not change in the plural form.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʁu/
Did you know?
- While 'un roux' refers to the cooking mixture, the term is also used to describe a person with 'red' hair in French.
- The term roux is derived from the Latin word russus, which means 'red'. This refers to the toasted brown color the flour and fat reach when cooked.
- The word 'roux' shares its roots with the English name 'Russell', which also derives from words meaning 'red-haired' or 'little red one'.
Examples in context
- Pour réaliser cette recette, vous aurez besoin d'un roux blond.To make this recipe, you will need a blond roux.
- Le roux blanc est idéal pour les sauces délicates.White roux is ideal for delicate sauces.
- Ajoutez le roux brun pour rendre le ragoût plus savoureux.Add the brown roux to make the stew more flavorful.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “roux” translations and entries roux, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries roux, CC BY-SA 4.0.
