“Charcuterie” is a French word that refers to a variety of prepared meats, often including sausages, pâtés, and cured hams. It’s also used to describe a platter of these meats, typically served with bread, cheese, and pickles. If you’re planning to visit France or enjoy French food, learning how to say “charcuterie” in French will help you feel more confident at the table.
In French, “charcuterie” is pronounced “shahr-koo-teh-ree.” This word is important in French cuisine, and knowing how to use it will allow you to better understand menus and even order food at a French restaurant. In this article, we’ll explore different ways to say “charcuterie” in French, along with some useful phrases you can practice.
Ways to Say “Charcuterie” in French
While “charcuterie” is the most common way to refer to these types of meats, there are other related words and phrases that can be used in different contexts. Below are several ways to say or refer to “charcuterie” in French, along with their pronunciation and meanings.
1. Charcuterie (shahr-koo-teh-ree)
Applicable for: General reference to meats like sausages, hams, pâtés, and other cured or prepared meats.
Meaning: A variety of prepared meats, including sausages, hams, and pâtés. It can also refer to a “charcuterie board,” which is a platter of assorted meats.
In a Sentence:
- “J’adore la charcuterie, surtout le jambon de Parme.” (I love charcuterie, especially Parma ham.)
- “Elle a préparé une belle planche de charcuterie pour le dîner.” (She prepared a beautiful charcuterie board for dinner.)
2. Assortiment de charcuterie (ah-sor-tee-mahn duh shahr-koo-teh-ree)
Applicable for: Referring to a selection of different types of meats.
Meaning: A selection or assortment of various types of charcuterie.
In a Sentence:
- “L’assortiment de charcuterie était délicieux.” (The assortment of charcuterie was delicious.)
- “Nous avons commandé un assortiment de charcuterie pour l’entrée.” (We ordered an assortment of charcuterie for the starter.)
3. Plateau de charcuterie (pla-toh duh shahr-koo-teh-ree)
Applicable for: A larger platter or board of various meats, typically served with cheese and accompaniments.
Meaning: A platter of charcuterie, often served as an appetizer or sharing dish.
In a Sentence:
- “Le plateau de charcuterie est prêt à être servi.” (The charcuterie platter is ready to be served.)
- “Nous avons partagé un grand plateau de charcuterie.” (We shared a large charcuterie platter.)
4. Viandes froides (vyon-d fah-wahd)
Applicable for: A more general term for cold meats, which can include charcuterie.
Meaning: Cold cuts or cold meats, often referring to sliced cured meats or sausages.
In a Sentence:
- “Les viandes froides sont parfaites pour un pique-nique.” (Cold meats are perfect for a picnic.)
- “Elle a acheté des viandes froides pour le sandwich.” (She bought cold meats for the sandwich.)
5. Charcutier (shahr-koo-tee-ay)
Applicable for: A person who prepares or sells charcuterie.
Meaning: A butcher or deli worker specializing in cured meats.
In a Sentence:
- “Le charcutier m’a conseillé d’essayer le pâté de campagne.” (The charcutier recommended I try the country pâté.)
- “Je vais chez le charcutier pour acheter du saucisson.” (I am going to the butcher to buy some sausage.)
6. Saucisson (soh-see-sohn)
Applicable for: Referring to sausages, a key part of charcuterie.
Meaning: Sausage, often referring to dry, cured sausages.
In a Sentence:
- “J’ai acheté du saucisson sec.” (I bought some dry sausage.)
- “Le saucisson est délicieux avec du fromage.” (The sausage is delicious with cheese.)
7. Pâté (pa-tey)
Applicable for: A spreadable paste made from ground meat, often featured in charcuterie.
Meaning: A meat paste, often made with liver, pork, or other meats.
In a Sentence:
- “J’aime le pâté de foie gras.” (I like foie gras pâté.)
- “Le pâté est servi avec des cornichons.” (The pâté is served with pickles.)
8. Rillettes (ree-yet)
Applicable for: A type of meat spread, especially pork or duck, in charcuterie.
Meaning: A meat spread, typically made from slow-cooked meat, such as pork or duck.
In a Sentence:
- “Les rillettes sont délicieuses avec du pain frais.” (The rillettes are delicious with fresh bread.)
- “Elle a préparé des rillettes maison.” (She made homemade rillettes.)
9. Jambon (zhahm-bohn)
Applicable for: Referring to ham, which is a classic charcuterie item.
Meaning: Ham, especially cured or aged ham.
In a Sentence:
- “Je voudrais du jambon de Bayonne.” (I would like some Bayonne ham.)
- “Le jambon est coupé finement.” (The ham is sliced thinly.)
10. Jambon cru (zhahm-bohn kroo)
Applicable for: Referring to raw, cured ham.
Meaning: Raw cured ham, such as prosciutto or Spanish jamón.
In a Sentence:
- “Le jambon cru est délicieux sur une baguette.” (Raw cured ham is delicious on a baguette.)
- “Elle a servi du jambon cru au dîner.” (She served raw cured ham at dinner.)
11. Saucisse (soh-sees)
Applicable for: A type of sausage, often included in charcuterie.
Meaning: Sausage, which may be cooked or cured.
In a Sentence:
- “La saucisse grillée est un plat populaire.” (Grilled sausage is a popular dish.)
- “Il a acheté des saucisses pour le barbecue.” (He bought sausages for the barbecue.)
12. Terrine (teh-reen)
Applicable for: A type of pâté or meat loaf, often served in slices.
Meaning: A meat dish, often made of ground meat, herbs, and spices, similar to pâté.
In a Sentence:
- “La terrine de lapin était excellente.” (The rabbit terrine was excellent.)
- “Ils ont servi une terrine maison.” (They served a homemade terrine.)
13. Boudin (boo-dah)
Applicable for: Referring to blood sausage or other types of sausages.
Meaning: A type of sausage made from blood or offal, like blood sausage.
In a Sentence:
- “Le boudin noir est populaire en France.” (Black pudding is popular in France.)
- “Ils ont mangé du boudin pour le dîner.” (They ate blood sausage for dinner.)
14. Foie gras (fwah grah)
Applicable for: A luxury meat often included in French charcuterie platters.
Meaning: A delicacy made from the liver of a duck or goose.
In a Sentence:
- “Le foie gras est un plat de fête.” (Foie gras is a festive dish.)
- “J’ai offert du foie gras à Noël.” (I gave foie gras for Christmas.)
15. Pâté de campagne (pa-tey duh kahn-pah-nye)
Applicable for: A country-style pâté, often rustic and served in slices.
Meaning: A rustic, often coarser pâté, made with pork or other meats.
In a Sentence:
- “Nous avons mangé du pâté de campagne sur du pain.” (We ate country pâté on bread.)
- “Le pâté de campagne était fait maison.” (The country pâté was homemade.)
16. Lomo (loh-moh)
Applicable for: Referring to Spanish-style cured pork loin, which can be part of charcuterie.
Meaning: Cured pork loin, a type of charcuterie from Spain.
In a Sentence:
- “J’ai acheté du lomo pour le repas.” (I bought some lomo for the meal.)
- “Le lomo est délicieux avec du fromage de chèvre.” (Lomo is delicious with goat cheese.)
17. Chorizo (shoh-ree-zoh)
Applicable for: A spicy sausage, popular in Spain but also eaten in France.
Meaning: A spicy, cured sausage made from pork, often flavored with paprika.
In a Sentence:
- “Le chorizo est épicé mais délicieux.” (The chorizo is spicy but delicious.)
- “Nous avons ajouté du chorizo dans le plat.” (We added chorizo to the dish.)
18. Pancetta (pan-chet-ta)
Applicable for: Italian cured pork belly, similar to bacon, often seen in charcuterie.
Meaning: Cured pork belly, often sliced thinly, from Italy.
In a Sentence:
- “La pancetta est utilisée dans de nombreuses recettes.” (Pancetta is used in many recipes.)
- “Elle a servi de la pancetta sur des pâtes.” (She served pancetta on pasta.)
19. Magret de canard (ma-grey duh kah-nahr)
Applicable for: Duck breast, often prepared and served in French cuisine.
Meaning: A duck breast, often smoked or cured.
In a Sentence:
- “Le magret de canard est délicieux avec une sauce aux fruits.” (The duck breast is delicious with a fruit sauce.)
- “Ils ont mangé du magret de canard au dîner.” (They ate duck breast for dinner.)
20. Caille (kah-yuh)
Applicable for: Referring to quail, often part of a more gourmet charcuterie board.
Meaning: A small bird, often served as part of a charcuterie platter or as a dish.
In a Sentence:
- “La caille est un plat très raffiné.” (Quail is a very refined dish.)
- “Ils ont préparé de la caille pour le dîner.” (They prepared quail for dinner.)
21. Viande séchée (vyon-say-shay)
Applicable for: Referring to dried meat, a common form of preserved charcuterie.
Meaning: Dried meat, typically cured and preserved by air-drying.
In a Sentence:
- “La viande séchée est souvent servie dans les bars en France.” (Dried meat is often served in bars in France.)
- “Elle a apporté de la viande séchée au pique-nique.” (She brought dried meat to the picnic.)
22. Lard (lahr)
Applicable for: Referring to fat from pork, often used in charcuterie and cooking.
Meaning: Pork fat, often used to enhance flavor or texture in meats.
In a Sentence:
- “Le lard est délicieux dans les plats mijotés.” (Lard is delicious in stews.)
- “Elle a ajouté du lard dans la recette.” (She added lard to the recipe.)
23. Pâté en croûte (pa-tey ahn kroo-t)
Applicable for: A pâté that is baked inside a pastry crust, often served at parties.
Meaning: A pâté encased in a pastry crust, usually served as a cold cut.
In a Sentence:
- “Le pâté en croûte est parfait pour une fête.” (The pâté en croûte is perfect for a party.)
- “Ils ont servi du pâté en croûte lors de l’apéritif.” (They served pâté en croûte at the appetizer.)
24. Cochon de lait (koh-shon duh lay)
Applicable for: Referring to suckling pig, a luxurious option in French charcuterie.
Meaning: Suckling pig, a delicacy in French cuisine.
In a Sentence:
- “Le cochon de lait est un plat traditionnel de Noël.” (Suckling pig is a traditional Christmas dish.)
- “Ils ont préparé un cochon de lait entier.” (They prepared a whole suckling pig.)
25. Tête de cochon (teht duh koh-shon)
Applicable for: Referring to the head of a pig, which may be prepared and served in various forms.
Meaning: A pig’s head, often used in charcuterie or special dishes.
In a Sentence:
- “La tête de cochon est servie dans certains restaurants français.” (The pig’s head is served in some French restaurants.)
- “Ils ont cuisiné la tête de cochon pour le dîner.” (They cooked the pig’s head for dinner.)
Other Ways to Say “Charcuterie” in French
Here’s a markdown table for “Other ways to say ‘charcuterie’ in French.”
| Other ways to say | Pronunciation | Meaning | Example Sentences |
| Saucisson sec | (soh-see-sohn sehk) | Dry sausage, typically cured and sliced thin. | “Le saucisson sec est un ingrédient clé des plateaux de charcuterie.” (Dry sausage is a key ingredient in charcuterie platters.) |
| “Elle a coupé le saucisson sec en tranches fines.” (She sliced the dry sausage thinly.) | |||
| Charcuterie fine | (shahr-koo-teh-ree feen) | A refined or fancy version of charcuterie. | “Nous avons servi de la charcuterie fine pour l’anniversaire.” (We served fine charcuterie for the birthday.) |
| “La charcuterie fine est préparée avec des ingrédients de qualité.” (Fine charcuterie is made with high-quality ingredients.) | |||
| Charcuterie de campagne | (shahr-koo-teh-ree duh kahn-pah-nye) | Country-style charcuterie, often rustic and simple. | “La charcuterie de campagne est typique des repas familiaux.” (Country-style charcuterie is typical of family meals.) |
| “Ils ont préparé une charcuterie de campagne pour le pique-nique.” (They prepared country-style charcuterie for the picnic.) | |||
| Viandes froides | (vyon-d fah-wahd) | Cold meats, including sausages, hams, and other cured meats. | “Les viandes froides sont idéales pour un déjeuner léger.” (Cold meats are perfect for a light lunch.) |
| “Je préfère manger des viandes froides avec du pain.” (I prefer eating cold meats with bread.) | |||
| Jambon cru de Parme | (zhahm-bohn kroo duh parm) | Parma ham, a famous type of raw, cured ham from Italy. | “Le jambon cru de Parme est délicieux avec du melon.” (Parma ham is delicious with melon.) |
| “Il a acheté du jambon cru de Parme pour la fête.” (He bought Parma ham for the party.) | |||
| Tartelette de charcuterie | (tar-teh-let duh shahr-koo-teh-ree) | A small, tart-like appetizer with charcuterie. | “Elle a préparé des tartelettes de charcuterie pour l’apéritif.” (She made small charcuterie tarts for the appetizer.) |
| “Les tartelettes de charcuterie étaient un vrai succès.” (The charcuterie tarts were a big hit.) | |||
| Pâté de porc | (pa-tey duh pork) | Pork pâté, a spreadable meat often served in slices. | “Le pâté de porc maison était savoureux.” (The homemade pork pâté was tasty.) |
| “Ils ont servi du pâté de porc avec des cornichons.” (They served pork pâté with pickles.) | |||
| Pâté de volaille | (pa-tey duh voh-lahy) | Poultry pâté, typically made from chicken or duck. | “Le pâté de volaille est parfait pour un pique-nique.” (Poultry pâté is perfect for a picnic.) |
| “Ils ont dégusté du pâté de volaille au déjeuner.” (They tasted poultry pâté at lunch.) | |||
| Saucisse de Toulouse | (soh-sees duh too-looz) | Toulouse sausage, a traditional French sausage from the region of Toulouse. | “La saucisse de Toulouse est souvent utilisée dans les cassoulets.” (Toulouse sausage is often used in cassoulets.) |
| “Il a préparé une saucisse de Toulouse au barbecue.” (He grilled a Toulouse sausage on the barbecue.) | |||
| Boudin blanc | (boo-dah blahn) | White pudding, often made from pork and milk, different from black pudding. | “Le boudin blanc est délicieux avec des pommes.” (White pudding is delicious with apples.) |
| “Elle a cuisiné du boudin blanc avec des légumes.” (She cooked white pudding with vegetables.) | |||
| Saucisse de Morteau | (soh-sees duh mor-toh) | A special smoked sausage from the Jura region of France. | “La saucisse de Morteau est délicieuse avec du fromage.” (Morteau sausage is delicious with cheese.) |
| “Nous avons mangé de la saucisse de Morteau avec du pain.” (We ate Morteau sausage with bread.) | |||
| Viande fumée | (vyon-d foo-may) | Smoked meat, which can include various charcuterie items. | “La viande fumée est utilisée dans les salades.” (Smoked meat is used in salads.) |
| “Ils ont acheté de la viande fumée pour les sandwiches.” (They bought smoked meat for sandwiches.) | |||
| Cochon de lait rôti | (koh-shon duh lay roh-tee) | Roasted suckling pig, a traditional dish served in French cuisine. | “Le cochon de lait rôti est un plat festif.” (Roasted suckling pig is a festive dish.) |
| “Ils ont servi du cochon de lait rôti pour le dîner.” (They served roasted suckling pig for dinner.) | |||
| Rillettes de canard | (ree-yet duh kah-nahr) | Duck rillettes, a spread made from slow-cooked duck meat. | “Les rillettes de canard sont un délice sur du pain grillé.” (Duck rillettes are a treat on toasted bread.) |
| “Elle a préparé des rillettes de canard maison.” (She made homemade duck rillettes.) | |||
| Jambon de Bayonne | (zhahm-bohn duh bah-yohn) | Bayonne ham, a dry-cured ham from the Basque region of France. | “Le jambon de Bayonne est souvent servi avec du melon.” (Bayonne ham is often served with melon.) |
| “Il a ajouté du jambon de Bayonne à la salade.” (He added Bayonne ham to the salad.) | |||
| Volailles froides | (voh-lah-yuh frawd) | Cold poultry, often served as part of charcuterie platters. | “Les volailles froides sont un choix populaire pour les buffets.” (Cold poultry is a popular choice for buffets.) |
| “Ils ont mangé des volailles froides avec de la sauce.” (They ate cold poultry with sauce.) | |||
| Charcuterie artisanale | (shahr-koo-teh-ree ar-tee-zah-nahl) | Artisanal charcuterie, referring to hand-crafted or locally made charcuterie. | “La charcuterie artisanale est fabriquée avec des méthodes traditionnelles.” (Artisanal charcuterie is made with traditional methods.) |
| “Ils ont acheté de la charcuterie artisanale pour le dîner.” (They bought artisanal charcuterie for dinner.) | |||
| Porc salé | (por sah-lay) | Salted pork, a common ingredient in French charcuterie. | “Le porc salé est utilisé dans beaucoup de recettes traditionnelles.” (Salted pork is used in many traditional recipes.) |
| “Elle a cuisiné du porc salé avec des légumes.” (She cooked salted pork with vegetables.) |
Response to “Charcuterie” in French
When someone mentions charcuterie in French, there are several ways you can respond, depending on the situation. Whether you’re at a restaurant, a party, or simply talking about food, knowing how to reply can help you engage in the conversation and understand French food culture better. Here are some common responses you can use.
1. “C’est délicieux!” (seh day-lee-yoos)
Meaning: “It’s delicious!”
In a Sentence:
- “Cette charcuterie est incroyable, c’est délicieux!” (This charcuterie is amazing, it’s delicious!)
- “J’adore la charcuterie, c’est toujours délicieux!” (I love charcuterie, it’s always delicious!)
2. “J’aime beaucoup la charcuterie.” (zhem boh-koo lah shahr-koo-teh-ree)
Meaning: “I really like charcuterie.”
In a Sentence:
- “J’aime beaucoup la charcuterie, surtout le saucisson.” (I really like charcuterie, especially the sausage.)
- “Elle aime beaucoup la charcuterie, surtout le pâté.” (She really likes charcuterie, especially the pâté.)
3. “Qu’est-ce qu’il y a sur la planche de charcuterie?” (kes kuh-lee ah soor lah plahnshe duh shahr-koo-teh-ree)
Meaning: “What’s on the charcuterie board?”
In a Sentence:
- “Qu’est-ce qu’il y a sur la planche de charcuterie? Est-ce qu’il y a du jambon?” (What’s on the charcuterie board? Is there ham?)
- “Qu’est-ce qu’il y a sur la planche de charcuterie? J’espère qu’il y a du saucisson!” (What’s on the charcuterie board? I hope there’s sausage!)
4. “Vous avez des options végétariennes?” (voo zah-vay dayz op-syon vay-zhay-tah-ree-enn)
Meaning: “Do you have any vegetarian options?”
In a Sentence:
- “Je voudrais de la charcuterie, mais vous avez des options végétariennes?” (I would like some charcuterie, but do you have any vegetarian options?)
- “Pour ceux qui ne mangent pas de viande, avez-vous des options végétariennes?” (For those who don’t eat meat, do you have any vegetarian options?)
5. “C’est parfait pour un apéritif!” (seh par-fay poor uh nah-peh-ree-teef)
Meaning: “It’s perfect for an appetizer!”
In a Sentence:
- “Une planche de charcuterie, c’est parfait pour un apéritif!” (A charcuterie platter is perfect for an appetizer!)
- “Ce saucisson et ce pâté sont parfaits pour un apéritif.” (This sausage and pâté are perfect for an appetizer.)
6. “J’ai déjà mangé.” (zhay day-zhah mahn-zhay)
Meaning: “I’ve already eaten.”
In a Sentence:
- “Merci pour la charcuterie, mais j’ai déjà mangé.” (Thank you for the charcuterie, but I’ve already eaten.)
- “Je suis déjà plein après le dîner, merci!” (I’m already full after dinner, thank you!)
7. “C’est une spécialité française.” (seh oon speh-syah-lee-tay frahn-sayz)
Meaning: “It’s a French specialty.”
In a Sentence:
- “La charcuterie est une spécialité française, très populaire dans le Sud.” (Charcuterie is a French specialty, very popular in the South.)
- “Le jambon de Bayonne fait partie de la charcuterie, c’est une spécialité.” (Bayonne ham is part of charcuterie, it’s a specialty.)
8. “J’aime bien le saucisson et le pâté.” (zhem byan luh soh-see-sohn eh luh pa-tey)
Meaning: “I really like sausage and pâté.”
In a Sentence:
- “J’aime bien le saucisson et le pâté, mais je préfère le jambon.” (I really like sausage and pâté, but I prefer the ham.)
- “Il aime bien le saucisson et le pâté sur du pain.” (He really likes sausage and pâté on bread.)
9. “La charcuterie est parfaite avec du vin.” (lah shahr-koo-teh-ree eh par-fet ah-vek doo veen)
Meaning: “Charcuterie is perfect with wine.”
In a Sentence:
- “La charcuterie est parfaite avec du vin rouge.” (Charcuterie is perfect with red wine.)
- “J’adore manger de la charcuterie avec un verre de vin.” (I love eating charcuterie with a glass of wine.)
10. “C’est un plat traditionnel.” (seh uh plah trah-dee-syon-el)
Meaning: “It’s a traditional dish.”
In a Sentence:
- “La charcuterie est un plat traditionnel français.” (Charcuterie is a traditional French dish.)
- “Le pâté de campagne est un plat traditionnel de la région.” (Country pâté is a traditional dish from the region.)
Exercise to Practice Saying “Charcuterie” in French
Here are 12 fill-in-the-blank sentences in French for practicing the ways to say “charcuterie,” with real-life connections. The answers follow each set of exercises.
Fill in the blanks:
- ______ est délicieux avec du pain frais.
(______ is delicious with fresh bread.) - J’ai acheté du ______ pour le dîner ce soir.
(I bought some ______ for dinner tonight.) - Pour l’apéritif, nous avons servi un ______ de charcuterie.
(For the appetizer, we served a ______ of charcuterie.) - J’aime beaucoup ______, surtout le ______.
(I really like ______, especially the ______.) - Est-ce qu’il y a ______ sur la planche de charcuterie?
(Is there ______ on the charcuterie board?) - Le ______ de Parme est mon préféré, il est très savoureux.
(______ ham is my favorite, it’s very tasty.) - Nous avons mangé du ______ pour le déjeuner.
(We ate ______ for lunch.) - Je vais acheter de la ______ de ______ pour le pique-nique.
(I will buy some ______ of ______ for the picnic.) - Le ______ est servi avec des cornichons et du pain.
(The ______ is served with pickles and bread.) - Ils ont préparé une ______ maison avec du porc.
(They made a homemade ______ with pork.) - Elle a choisi du ______ sur le plateau de charcuterie.
(She chose some ______ on the charcuterie platter.) - Le ______ est un classique de la charcuterie française.
(______ is a classic in French charcuterie.)
Answers:
- Le pâté (Pâté is delicious with fresh bread.)
- Saucisson (I bought some sausage for dinner tonight.)
- Plateau (For the appetizer, we served a platter of charcuterie.)
- Charcuterie, saucisson (I really like charcuterie, especially the sausage.)
- Jambon cru (Is there raw ham on the charcuterie board?)
- Jambon (Parma ham is my favorite, it’s very tasty.)
- Viande froide (We ate cold meat for lunch.)
- Pâté, canard (I will buy some pâté of duck for the picnic.)
- Rillettes (The rillettes are served with pickles and bread.)
- Terrine (They made a homemade terrine with pork.)
- Saucisse (She chose some sausage on the charcuterie platter.)
- Jambon de Bayonne (Bayonne ham is a classic in French charcuterie.)
Conclusion
Learning how to say “charcuterie” in French is an excellent way to deepen your understanding of French cuisine. Charcuterie refers to a variety of delicious cured meats, sausages, pâtés, and more. Whether you’re planning a visit to France, hosting a dinner party, or just enjoying some tasty food, knowing these words will help you feel more comfortable and confident when talking about French food.
By practicing different ways to say “charcuterie” and familiarizing yourself with some common responses, you’ll be able to navigate any conversation about French delicacies. So, next time you’re at a French restaurant or enjoying a meal with friends, don’t hesitate to use these words to talk about your favorite foods. Bon appétit!