le menu
The English phrase "the menu" is translated into French as le menu.
The phrase le menu often refers to a fixed-price multi-course meal.
Which one should you use?
In a restaurant, la carte is used for the full list of dishes available, whereas le menu often refers to a fixed-price multi-course meal (a set menu).
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often use le menu to mean the entire list of food available, but in French, asking for le menu might result in being given a specific fixed-price set meal rather than the full list of options.
Did you know?
- The word menu is a linguistic doublet of the English word 'minute'. Both share the same ancestor in the Latin minūtus, meaning 'tiny' or 'small'.
- The term menu can also be used as an adjective in French to describe something very thin or small, reflecting its original Latin meaning.
- In many French bistros, le menu du jour is a chalkboard specialty that changes daily based on the market, rather than a permanent printed list.
Examples in context
- Tom consulta le menu.Tom perused the menu.This example shows how someone might peruse le menu.Tatoeba #6638048 by GB3, translation #6637330 by Hybrid
- J'ai regardé le menu.I looked at the menu.This sentence is useful for describing the action of looking at le menu.Tatoeba #10711070 by xhlulu, translation #5939643 by CK
- Puis-je voir le menu ?Can I see the menu?This is a way to ask to see le menu.Tatoeba #2794162 by Rovo, translation #6614328 by Eccles17
- Pourriez-vous me donner le menu, s'il vous plaît?Could you please give me the menu?
- Est-ce que je pourrais avoir le menu, s'il vous plaît?May I have the menu, please?
- Je peux avoir la carte, s'il te plaît?Can I have the menu, please?
- La carte, s'il te plaît?The menu, please?
- Est-ce que ce plat contient [ingredient]?Does this dish contain [ingredient]?
- 24 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hugo and Emma are sitting at a restaurant table.
- HugoEmma, est-ce que tu as le menu ?Emma, do you have the menu?
- EmmaNon, je ne trouve pas le menu.No, I cannot find the menu.
- HugoRegarde, le menu est là-bas.Look, the menu is over there.
- EmmaAh oui, merci Hugo.Ah yes, thanks Hugo.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries le, menu, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
