Have you ever wondered about the definition of a la carte? This article will provide you with all of the info you need on the word a la carte, including its definition, etymology, usage, example sentences, and more!
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According to Vocabulary and Grammarist Free Dictionary, the term a la carte is a French word that can be used as a noun, adjective or adverb. As a noun, this refers to a menu that has individual dishes listed with separate prices. As an adjective, this is used to describe a type of eating in which you order items that are listed a la carte on a section of a menu. Finally, it can be used as an adjective to describe such a meal. Some places you might commonly see a la carte ordering would be a sushi restaurant or Indian restaurant in which you order separate items to create a meal rather than one dish. These items are not part of a set meal, but are rather unlimited choices of individual dishes that one chooses from to create a restaurant meal.
The opposite of a la carte is a table d’hôte. In French, this refers to a meal that is served at a fixed price or that contains fixed priced items or fixed priced options. You might also see a table d’hote at a wedding, in which there is a fixed list of items one can choose from. For example, one might have a choice between steak or chicken, but the whole meal and garnish are fixed with few options. The entree selection may all come with the same individual side dishes with no choice, like a pickle and chips. There might also be limited choices when it comes to dessert, with few or no separate items to choose from. Guests and waiters may enjoy this inclusive price, but could also be frustrated that their main course is chosen for them. The literal meaning of the French phrase a la carte is “by the card” but both English and French use the term to mean “according to the menu.” The pronunciation of a la carte is ˌɑ lə ˈkɑrt. A la carte has been used since C19.
What are other French loan words commonly used in English?
There are many different words that come from the French language. You might be able to find these in Collins English Dictionary 12th edition or the American Heritage Unabridged Dictionary of the English language 5th edition. Thousands of words come from French origins, we have many cognates of French words in English, but we also use many loan words that you may not even know are French. There are around 7000 French words in the English language according to Busuu, but take a look at the below and see if you recognize any of these words! Try making flashcards or a quiz like a student at Princeton University to test your knowledge. In Italian, you might register words like this in an Italian Dictionary 1st edition.
Metabolism – French métabolisme
Chauffeur – French chauffeur
Delegate – Old French delegat
Vinaigrette – French vinaigrette
Gallery – Old French galerie
Souvenir – French souvenir (memory)
Metro – French métro
Apéritif – French apéritif
Apostrophe – French apostrophe
Identity – Middle French identité
Ricochet – French ricochet
Rendez-vous – French rendez-vous (appointment)
Hotel – French hôtel
Restaurant – French restaurant
Irony – Middle French ironie
Attaché – French attaché (attached)
Dossier – French dossier
Magnificent – Middle French magnificent
Homage – Old French homage
Optimism – French optimisme
Chic – French chic (elegant)
Nocturnal – Middle French nocturnal
Laissez-faire – French laissez-faire (leave things to take their course)
Kevin Miller is a growth marketer with an extensive background in Search Engine Optimization, paid acquisition and email marketing. He is also an online editor and writer based out of Los Angeles, CA. He studied at Georgetown University, worked at Google and became infatuated with English Grammar and for years has been diving into the language, demystifying the do's and don'ts for all who share the same passion! He can be found online here.
Kevin
August 27, 2021
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