crème aigre
feminine
The English phrase "sour cream" is translated into French as crème aigre. Wiktionary also lists crème sure and fromage blanc.
Meaning: cream which has been treated with a benign bacterium (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| crème aigre | feminine | |
| crème sure | feminine | |
| fromage blanc | /fʁɔ.maʒ blɑ̃/ | masculine |
The term refers to cream that has been treated with a benign bacterium.
What does it mean word for word?
The term crème aigre is a literal translation where crème means "cream" and aigre means "sour".
Which one should you use?
While crème aigre refers to sour cream, fromage blanc is a similar but distinct fresh, unripened cheese that is often used in similar culinary contexts.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Quebec, people often refer to sour cream as crème sure.
Did you know?
- In France, you will rarely find crème aigre in a supermarket. Most French cooks use crème fraîche, which is naturally soured but has a milder taste.
- The term crème has roots in the Greek word for 'anointment', which is the same origin as the word 'chrism'.
Example sentences for French are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Gabriel and Chloé are preparing dinner together in the kitchen.
- GabrielChloé, avons-nous de la crème aigre pour les tacos ?Chloé, do we have any sour cream for the tacos?
- ChloéJe ne pense pas, regarde dans le frigo, Gabriel.I don't think so, look in the fridge, Gabriel.
- GabrielC'est vrai, il n'y a plus de crème aigre.It's true, there is no more sour cream.
- ChloéJe vais en acheter rapidement au magasin.I will go buy some quickly at the store.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sour cream” translations and entries fromage blanc, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries aigre, blanc, crème, fromage, CC BY-SA 4.0.
