Learning how to say common words in French can be fun and useful. If you enjoy desserts, knowing how to say “cake” in French is a great start. Whether you are ordering a treat at a bakery in France or talking about your favorite sweets, this word will come in handy.
In this article, you will learn how to say “cake” in French, explore different ways to express the word, and discover famous phrases like “let them eat cake” in French. By the end, you’ll be ready to talk about cakes like a true French speaker!
Ways to Say “Cake” in French
In French, “cake” can be expressed in different ways depending on the type of dessert. Some words are specific to baked goods, while others describe various sweet treats. Let’s explore these expressions with their meanings, pronunciations, and examples.
1. Gâteau
Pronunciation: gah-toh
Meaning: Cake, usually a layered or frosted dessert.
In a Sentence:
- J’ai préparé un gâteau au chocolat. (I made a chocolate cake.)
- Le gâteau d’anniversaire était délicieux. (The birthday cake was delicious.)
2. Cake
Pronunciation: kahk
Meaning: Pound cake or fruitcake.
In a Sentence:
- Elle a acheté un cake aux fruits. (She bought a fruitcake.)
- J’adore le cake au citron. (I love lemon pound cake.)
3. Pâtisserie
Pronunciation: pah-tee-suh-ree
Meaning: Pastry or bakery item (can include cakes).
In a Sentence:
- Nous avons visité une pâtisserie à Paris. (We visited a bakery in Paris.)
- Cette pâtisserie vend des gâteaux incroyables. (This bakery sells amazing cakes.)
4. Tarte
Pronunciation: tart
Meaning: Tart or pie (sometimes used for cake-like desserts).
In a Sentence:
- J’ai mangé une tarte aux pommes. (I ate an apple tart.)
- Cette tarte est parfaite pour le dessert. (This tart is perfect for dessert.)
5. Entremets
Pronunciation: ahn-truh-meh
Meaning: A layered dessert often served at fancy events.
In a Sentence:
- L’entremets au chocolat était exquis. (The chocolate layered dessert was exquisite.)
- Ils ont commandé un entremets pour la réception. (They ordered a layered dessert for the reception.)
6. Dessert
Pronunciation: deh-sehr
Meaning: General term for sweet dishes served after a meal.
In a Sentence:
- Quel dessert préfères-tu? (What dessert do you prefer?)
- Le dessert du jour est un gâteau aux fraises. (Today’s dessert is a strawberry cake.)
7. Gâteau de mariage
Pronunciation: gah-toh duh mah-ree-ahzh
Meaning: Wedding cake.
In a Sentence:
- Le gâteau de mariage était magnifique. (The wedding cake was magnificent.)
- Ils ont choisi un gâteau de mariage à la vanille. (They chose a vanilla wedding cake.)
8. Gâteau d’anniversaire
Pronunciation: gah-toh dah-nee-ver-sehr
Meaning: Birthday cake.
In a Sentence:
- Nous avons surpris Paul avec un gâteau d’anniversaire. (We surprised Paul with a birthday cake.)
- Son gâteau d’anniversaire avait trois étages. (His birthday cake had three layers.)
9. Pâté en croûte
Pronunciation: pah-teh ahn kroot
Meaning: Savory pastry often mistaken for a dessert.
In a Sentence:
- Le pâté en croûte est un classique de la cuisine française. (The pâté en croûte is a classic of French cuisine.)
- Ce pâté en croûte est fait maison. (This pâté en croûte is homemade.)
10. Gâteau au fromage
Pronunciation: gah-toh oh fuh-mahzh
Meaning: Cheesecake.
In a Sentence:
- Avez-vous essayé le gâteau au fromage ici? (Have you tried the cheesecake here?)
- Ce gâteau au fromage est crémeux et délicieux. (This cheesecake is creamy and delicious.)
11. Clafoutis
Pronunciation: klah-foo-tee
Meaning: A baked dessert made with fruit and batter.
In a Sentence:
- Le clafoutis aux cerises est mon préféré. (Cherry clafoutis is my favorite.)
- Nous avons préparé un clafoutis pour le dessert. (We made a clafoutis for dessert.)
12. Galette
Pronunciation: gah-let
Meaning: Flat cake, often savory or sweet.
In a Sentence:
- La galette des rois est populaire en janvier. (The King’s cake is popular in January.)
- Une galette au sarrasin, s’il vous plaît. (A buckwheat galette, please.)
13. Mille-feuille
Pronunciation: meel-foy
Meaning: A layered pastry often called “Napoleon.”
In a Sentence:
- Le mille-feuille est un dessert français classique. (The mille-feuille is a classic French dessert.)
- Chaque couche du mille-feuille était parfaite. (Every layer of the mille-feuille was perfect.)
14. Charlotte
Pronunciation: shar-lot
Meaning: A molded dessert with layers of sponge cake and filling.
In a Sentence:
- Nous avons mangé une charlotte aux fraises. (We ate a strawberry charlotte.)
- Cette charlotte est délicieuse et légère. (This charlotte is delicious and light.)
15. Forêt-Noire
Pronunciation: for-ray nwahr
Meaning: Black Forest cake.
In a Sentence:
- La Forêt-Noire est garnie de cerises et de crème fouettée. (The Black Forest cake is topped with cherries and whipped cream.)
- Je veux une part de Forêt-Noire, s’il vous plaît. (I want a slice of Black Forest cake, please.)
16. Baba au Rhum
Pronunciation: bah-bah oh rum
Meaning: Rum-soaked cake.
In a Sentence:
- Le baba au rhum est un dessert classique. (The rum-soaked cake is a classic dessert.)
- J’adore le baba au rhum avec de la crème fouettée. (I love rum cake with whipped cream.)
17. Kouglof
Pronunciation: koo-glof
Meaning: Sweet yeast cake, often with dried fruits.
In a Sentence:
- Le kouglof est populaire pendant les fêtes. (Kouglof is popular during the holidays.)
- Nous avons acheté un kouglof à la boulangerie. (We bought a kouglof at the bakery.)
18. Tiramisu
Pronunciation: tee-rah-mee-soo
Meaning: Coffee-flavored layered dessert (borrowed from Italian).
In a Sentence:
- Le tiramisu est mon dessert préféré. (Tiramisu is my favorite dessert.)
- Chaque couche de tiramisu était parfaite. (Every layer of the tiramisu was perfect.)
19. Paris-Brest
Pronunciation: pah-ree brest
Meaning: A round choux pastry with praline filling.
In a Sentence:
- Le Paris-Brest est un délice. (The Paris-Brest is a delight.)
- J’ai commandé un Paris-Brest pour le dessert. (I ordered a Paris-Brest for dessert.)
20. Biscuit
Pronunciation: bees-kwee
Meaning: Sponge cake or cookie.
In a Sentence:
- Le biscuit est la base de nombreux desserts. (The sponge cake is the base of many desserts.)
- Elle a fait un biscuit roulé au chocolat. (She made a chocolate sponge roll.)
21. Génoise
Pronunciation: zhay-nwaz
Meaning: Sponge cake used for layered cakes.
In a Sentence:
- La génoise est légère et moelleuse. (The sponge cake is light and fluffy.)
- Nous avons préparé une génoise à la vanille. (We made a vanilla sponge cake.)
22. Financier
Pronunciation: fee-nahn-syeh
Meaning: Small almond cake.
In a Sentence:
- Le financier est parfait avec le thé. (The almond cake is perfect with tea.)
- J’ai pris un financier pour le goûter. (I had an almond cake for a snack.)
23. Tarte Tatin
Pronunciation: tart tah-tan
Meaning: Caramelized upside-down apple tart.
In a Sentence:
- La tarte Tatin est un dessert classique français. (The Tarte Tatin is a classic French dessert.)
- Cette tarte Tatin est incroyablement savoureuse. (This Tarte Tatin is incredibly tasty.)
24. Moelleux au Chocolat
Pronunciation: mwah-loo oh shoh-koh-lah
Meaning: Chocolate lava cake.
In a Sentence:
- Le moelleux au chocolat a un cœur fondant. (The chocolate lava cake has a molten center.)
- J’adore le moelleux au chocolat chaud. (I love warm chocolate lava cake.)
25. Crêpe Cake
Pronunciation: krep kayk
Meaning: Cake made with stacked crêpes and filling.
In a Sentence:
- Le crêpe cake à la vanille est délicieux. (The vanilla crêpe cake is delicious.)
- Ils ont servi un crêpe cake au chocolat pour le dessert. (They served a chocolate crêpe cake for dessert.)
26. Fraisier
Pronunciation: fray-zyeh
Meaning: Strawberry shortcake.
In a Sentence:
- Le fraisier est parfait pour l’été. (The strawberry shortcake is perfect for summer.)
- Nous avons commandé un fraisier pour la fête. (We ordered a strawberry shortcake for the party.)
27. Croquembouche
Pronunciation: kroh-kohn-boosh
Meaning: Tower of cream puffs bound with caramel.
In a Sentence:
- Le croquembouche est un dessert spectaculaire. (The croquembouche is a spectacular dessert.)
- Ils ont servi un croquembouche au mariage. (They served a croquembouche at the wedding.)
28. Opéra
Pronunciation: oh-peh-rah
Meaning: Layered chocolate and coffee cake.
In a Sentence:
- L’Opéra est un gâteau raffiné et délicieux. (The Opera cake is refined and delicious.)
- Nous avons partagé un gâteau Opéra après le dîner. (We shared an Opera cake after dinner.)
Other Ways to Say “Cake” in French
Here are additional ways to express “cake” in French, along with their pronunciations, meanings, and example sentences:
| Other Ways to Say | Pronunciation | Meaning | Example Sentences |
| Tartelette | tar-tuh-let | Small tart or mini cake | J’ai mangé une tartelette aux fraises. (I ate a strawberry tart.) |
| Bûche de Noël | boosh duh no-el | Yule log cake | La bûche de Noël est délicieuse. (The Yule log cake is delicious.) |
| Biscuit roulé | bees-kwee roo-lay | Cake roll | Nous avons préparé un biscuit roulé. (We made a cake roll.) |
| Cake aux fruits | kahk oh frwee | Fruitcake | Ma grand-mère adore le cake aux fruits. (My grandmother loves fruitcake.) |
| Fondant au chocolat | fohn-dahn oh shoh-koh-lah | Chocolate fondant | Le fondant au chocolat est irrésistible. (The chocolate fondant is irresistible.) |
| Délice sucré | day-lees soo-kray | Sweet delight (general term) | Ce délice sucré est parfait pour le dessert. (This sweet delight is perfect for dessert.) |
| Pâtisserie fine | pah-tee-suh-ree feen | Fine pastry | J’adore la pâtisserie fine de cette boulangerie. (I love the fine pastry from this bakery.) |
| Spécialité sucrée | spay-syah-lee-tay soo-kray | Sweet specialty | Leur spécialité sucrée est le gâteau au citron. (Their sweet specialty is lemon cake.) |
| Gâteau sec | gah-toh seh | Dry cake (plain cake) | Le gâteau sec est idéal avec du café. (The dry cake is perfect with coffee.) |
| Petit gâteau | puh-tee gah-toh | Small cake (cupcake) | Les petits gâteaux sont mignons et délicieux. (The small cakes are cute and delicious.) |
| Tourte | toort | Filled cake or pie | La tourte aux fruits est ma préférée. (The fruit-filled cake is my favorite.) |
| Confiserie | kohn-fee-zuh-ree | Confectionery or sweet shop | Nous avons visité une confiserie célèbre. (We visited a famous sweet shop.) |
| Sucrerie | soo-kray-ree | Sweet treat or candy | J’adore les sucreries après le dîner. (I love sweet treats after dinner.) |
Responses to “Cake” in French
When someone mentions “cake” in French, there are different ways to respond depending on the context. Here are some polite and casual responses commonly used in French conversations.
1. J’adore ça
Pronunciation: zhah-door sah
Meaning: I love that.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Tu veux un morceau de gâteau? (Do you want a piece of cake?)
- Person 2: J’adore ça! (I love that!)
2. C’est délicieux
Pronunciation: say day-lee-syeuh
Meaning: It’s delicious.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Le gâteau au chocolat est prêt. (The chocolate cake is ready.)
- Person 2: C’est délicieux! (It’s delicious!)
3. Oui, avec plaisir
Pronunciation: wee ah-vek pleh-zeer
Meaning: Yes, with pleasure.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Voulez-vous une part de gâteau? (Would you like a slice of cake?)
- Person 2: Oui, avec plaisir! (Yes, with pleasure!)
4. Non, merci
Pronunciation: nohn mehr-see
Meaning: No, thank you.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Tu veux du gâteau? (Do you want some cake?)
- Person 2: Non, merci. (No, thank you.)
5. C’est mon préféré
Pronunciation: say moh(n) pray-fay-ray
Meaning: It’s my favorite.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Que penses-tu du gâteau aux fraises? (What do you think of the strawberry cake?)
- Person 2: C’est mon préféré! (It’s my favorite!)
6. J’en veux bien
Pronunciation: zhah(n) vuh byeh(n)
Meaning: I’d like some.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Tu veux un peu de gâteau? (Do you want some cake?)
- Person 2: J’en veux bien! (I’d like some!)
7. Ça a l’air bon
Pronunciation: sah ah lehr boh(n)
Meaning: That looks good.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Regarde ce gâteau au chocolat. (Look at this chocolate cake.)
- Person 2: Ça a l’air bon! (That looks good!)
8. C’est tentant
Pronunciation: say tahn-tah(n)
Meaning: That’s tempting.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Tu veux essayer le gâteau? (Do you want to try the cake?)
- Person 2: C’est tentant! (That’s tempting!)
9. Quelle bonne idée
Pronunciation: kel bohn ee-day
Meaning: What a good idea!
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: On pourrait faire un gâteau. (We could make a cake.)
- Person 2: Quelle bonne idée! (What a good idea!)
10. Je ne peux pas résister
Pronunciation: juh nuh puh pah ray-zee-steh
Meaning: I can’t resist.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Tu veux un morceau de gâteau? (Do you want a piece of cake?)
- Person 2: Je ne peux pas résister! (I can’t resist!)
11. C’est parfait
Pronunciation: say par-fay
Meaning: It’s perfect.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Voici une part de gâteau pour toi. (Here’s a slice of cake for you.)
- Person 2: C’est parfait! (It’s perfect!)
12. Merci, j’en prends une part
Pronunciation: mehr-see, zhah(n) prah(n) oon par
Meaning: Thank you, I’ll take a piece.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Tu veux du gâteau? (Do you want some cake?)
- Person 2: Merci, j’en prends une part! (Thank you, I’ll take a piece!)
13. Pourquoi pas?
Pronunciation: poor-kwah pah
Meaning: Why not?
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: On partage un gâteau? (Shall we share a cake?)
- Person 2: Pourquoi pas? (Why not?)
14. Ça sent bon
Pronunciation: sah sah(n) boh(n)
Meaning: That smells good.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: J’ai fait un gâteau au citron. (I made a lemon cake.)
- Person 2: Ça sent bon! (That smells good!)
15. Je me régale
Pronunciation: juh muh ray-gahl
Meaning: I’m enjoying it/I’m delighted.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Comment est le gâteau? (How’s the cake?)
- Person 2: Je me régale! (I’m enjoying it!)
Exercise to Practice Saying “Cake” in French
Fill in the blanks with the correct French words for “cake” or related terms. Each sentence is in French, followed by its meaning in English.
Fill-in-the-Blanks
- Nous avons mangé un délicieux ________ au chocolat.
- La boulangerie vend une excellente ________ de mariage.
- Pour son anniversaire, elle a commandé une ________ aux fraises.
- Il préfère le ________ au citron avec son café.
- Nous avons fait un ________ roulé à la vanille.
- La tarte aux pommes est une ________ très populaire en France.
- Le chef a préparé un ________ au fromage maison.
- Chaque Noël, nous mangeons une ________ de Noël traditionnelle.
- Ils ont décoré un grand ________ d’anniversaire pour la fête.
- J’adore le ________ Tatin avec des pommes caramélisées.
- Nous avons partagé un délicieux ________ au chocolat après le dîner.
- Elle a cuisiné un ________ aux fruits pour le dessert.
Answers and Meanings
- Gâteau – We ate a delicious chocolate cake.
- Gâteau – The bakery sells an excellent wedding cake.
- Tarte – For her birthday, she ordered a strawberry tart.
- Cake – He prefers lemon pound cake with his coffee.
- Biscuit – We made a vanilla sponge roll.
- Pâtisserie – The apple tart is a very popular pastry in France.
- Gâteau – The chef prepared a homemade cheesecake.
- Bûche – Every Christmas, we eat a traditional Yule log cake.
- Gâteau – They decorated a big birthday cake for the party.
- Tarte – I love Tarte Tatin with caramelized apples.
- Moelleux – We shared a delicious chocolate lava cake after dinner.
- Cake – She baked a fruitcake for dessert.
Conclusion
Learning how to say “cake” in French is both fun and useful. Whether you’re visiting a bakery, celebrating a special occasion, or talking about desserts with friends, knowing the right words helps you communicate better. From “gâteau” to “tarte” and “bûche de Noël,” French offers many delicious terms to explore.
Keep practicing these words, and soon you’ll feel confident ordering cakes or talking about your favorite treats in French. Understanding these dessert-related expressions will make your conversations more enjoyable and help you connect with French culture through its famous pastries and sweets. Bon appétit!