caramel au beurre salé
The English phrase "salted caramel" is translated into French as caramel au beurre salé.
This phrase refers to a sweet confectionery sauce or candy made from caramelized sugar and butter with a pinch of salt.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to caramel with salted butter.
Which one should you use?
While the English phrase uses "salted" as an adjective for the caramel itself, the French construction specifies that the salt is contained within the butter (beurre salé).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Brittany, the term caramel au beurre demi-sel is commonly used to refer to salted caramel.
Did you know?
- The word caramel is actually a linguistic relative of the word 'chalumeau', a type of woodwind instrument.
- In France, the phrase caramel au beurre salé is closely tied to the region of Brittany, where salted butter was traditionally used in nearly all cooking to help preserve food.
- If you ask for a sucette au caramel at a French bakery, you will receive a hard lollipop rather than the creamy sauce implied by caramel au beurre salé.
Examples in context
- Je vais prendre une glace au caramel au beurre salé, s'il vous plaît.I will have a salted caramel ice cream, please.
- J'aime beaucoup les bonbons au caramel salé.I really like salted caramel candies.
- Tu devrais goûter cette crème glacée au caramel beurre salé, elle est délicieuse!You should try this salted caramel ice cream, it's delicious!
- J'adore le caramel au beurre salé.I love salted caramel.
- Ce dessert contient du caramel au beurre salé.This dessert contains salted caramel.
- Voulez-vous une sauce caramel au beurre salé ?Do you want a salted caramel sauce?
Example conversation
Manon and Gabriel are at a dessert cafe.
- ManonTu veux goûter mon dessert ?Do you want to taste my dessert?
- GabrielEst-ce qu'il y a du caramel au beurre salé ?Is there any salted caramel in it?
- ManonOui, c'est délicieux.Yes, it is delicious.
- GabrielAlors, je vais en prendre un peu.Then, I will have a little bit.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries beurre, caramel, salé, CC BY-SA 4.0.
