œuf au plat
/œf o pla/
The English phrase "sunny side up egg" is translated into French as œuf au plat.
This phrase refers to an egg fried in a pan without being flipped, which keeps the yolk visible and runny.
Which one should you use?
While œuf au plat is the standard term, you may encounter œuf miroir in professional culinary contexts. This term refers to the way the yolk acts like a mirror.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the phrase plural (sunny side up eggs), only the word œuf changes to œufs. The prepositional phrase au plat remains in its singular form.
Did you know?
- In French, œuf is one of the few nouns where the pronunciation of the word changes completely when it becomes plural, moving from a closed sound to an open sound.
- While œuf au plat is standard, an egg cooked in a shell or a small cup is called œuf en cocotte, showing how French distinguishes eggs by their vessel.
- The word œuf is a direct linguistic descendant of the Classical Latin word ōvum, which is also the root of the English word 'oval'.
Examples in context
- Je voudrais un œuf au plat, s'il vous plaît.I would like a sunny side up egg, please.
- Il prépare un œuf au plat pour le petit-déjeuner.He is preparing a sunny side up egg for breakfast.
- Est-ce que tu peux faire un œuf au plat ?Can you make a sunny side up egg?
Example conversation
A man and a woman are deciding on breakfast at home.
- EmmaNathan, tu veux manger quoi ce matin ?Nathan, what do you want to eat this morning?
- NathanUn œuf au plat me ferait bien plaisir.A sunny side up egg would really please me.
- EmmaD'accord, je vais en préparer un pour toi.Okay, I will prepare one for you.
- NathanMerci beaucoup, Emma !Thank you very much, Emma!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry œuf au plat, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries plat, œuf, CC BY-SA 4.0.
