lait écrémé
/lɛ e.kʁe.me/masculine
The French phrase for skim milk is lait écrémé.
lait écrémé refers to milk with the cream removed.
Meaning: milk with removed cream (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term is composed of lait (milk) and the adjective écrémé, which is the past participle of the verb écrémer, meaning 'to skim (cream) from milk'.
Which one should you use?
While lait écrémé is skim milk, you may encounter lait entier for whole milk or lait demi-écrémé for semi-skimmed milk. In French supermarkets, lait demi-écrémé is often more common than pure skim milk.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because lait is a masculine uncountable noun, you will often see it preceded by the partitive article du (du lait écrémé) when referring to or ordering an unspecified amount, such as 'some skim milk'.
How do you pronounce it?
/lɛ e.kʁe.me/
Did you know?
- The verb écrémer is used metaphorically in French business and finance to describe 'skimming the cream' or taking the best parts of a market.
- The word crème inside écrémé is the root for the English word 'cream', but in French, it can also refer to the 'best' or most elite group of people.
- The term écrémé is used in French skincare to describe 'skimmed' or light lotions that lack heavy oils.
Examples in context
- C'est du lait écrémé.This is skim milk.This sentence is useful for identifying the liquid as lait écrémé.Tatoeba #10574225 by lbdx, translation #8965644 by CK
- Pour moi, du lait écrémé.I'll have skim milk.This sentence is useful for ordering lait écrémé.Tatoeba #849484 by sacredceltic, translation #901554 by joeycrunch
- Au petit-déjeuner, je bois toujours du lait écrémé.For breakfast, I always drink skim milk.
- J'ajoute du lait allégé dans mon thé.I add skim milk to my tea.
- Je préfère le lait écrémé dans mon café.I prefer skim milk in my coffee.
Example conversation
At a local grocery store.
- LucasEst-ce qu'il reste du lait écrémé ?Is there any skim milk left?
- ChloéOui, il en reste un peu dans le rayon.Yes, there is a little left in the aisle.
- LucasParfait, je vais en prendre une brique.Perfect, I will take a carton.
- ChloéD'accord, Lucas, n'oublie pas les œufs.Okay, Lucas, don't forget the eggs.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “skim milk” translations and entries lait écrémé, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
