spécialité de la maison
The English phrase "specialty of the house" is translated into French as spécialité de la maison.
In a restaurant setting, this phrase is used to highlight a signature dish that the chef or establishment is particularly known for.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of spécialité (specialty), de la (of the) and maison (house/home).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Quebec, the informal question Qu'est-ce qui est bon ici? is used to mean 'What is good here?'
How does it change in a sentence?
When referring to a specific dish as "the" specialty, you add the definite article la to the beginning of the phrase to get la spécialité de la maison.
Did you know?
- In France, the term fait maison (homemade) is legally protected. Restaurants cannot claim a spécialité de la maison is 'homemade' if it was prepared from a pre-made industrial product.
- The word maison is often used in French business names to mean a 'firm' or 'brand', such as Maison Dior. In this context, it implies a tradition of craftsmanship rather than just a physical building.
- The word maison is a linguistic relative of the English word 'mansion'. While maison refers to any home or house, 'mansion' was borrowed from the same Latin root to specifically describe a large estate.
Examples in context
- Excusez-moi, quelle est la spécialité de la maison?Pardon me, what is the specialty of the house?
- C'est la spécialité de la maison.It is the specialty of the house.
- Je vais goûter la spécialité de la maison.I am going to taste the specialty of the house.
Example conversation
At a French restaurant, Chloé and Hugo are looking at the menu.
- ChloéHugo, quelle est la spécialité de la maison ici ?Hugo, what is the specialty of the house here?
- HugoJe crois que c'est le canard.I believe it is the duck.
- ChloéD'accord, je vais prendre la spécialité de la maison.Okay, I will take the specialty of the house.
- HugoTrès bon choix, Chloé.Very good choice, Chloé.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, la, maison, spécialité, CC BY-SA 4.0.
