anjou: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Specialist/Formal
Quick answer
What does “anjou” mean?
A variety of pear with a greenish-yellow skin.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A variety of pear with a greenish-yellow skin.
A historical region and former province in northwestern France, the origin of the name for the pear variety. In contexts outside fruit, it can refer to the region, its people, or its medieval ruling house.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in usage, though the historical/cultural reference may be slightly better known in the UK due to proximity and historical ties.
Connotations
Neutral for the fruit; connotes history, nobility, and French origin for the region.
Frequency
Very low frequency in both varieties. Most likely encountered in specialist contexts (gardening, history, cookery).
Grammar
How to Use “anjou” in a Sentence
[The] Anjou [pear] is [adjective]Anjou, a [region/pear] in [France]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “anjou” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The Anjou region is historically significant.
American English
- She prepared an Anjou pear tart.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, possibly in gourmet food import/export.
Academic
In historical studies of medieval Europe or the Plantagenets.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Might be used at a farmers' market or in a recipe.
Technical
In pomology (fruit cultivation) or historical geography.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “anjou”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “anjou”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “anjou”
- Capitalising when referring to the fruit ('anjou pear' is standard).
- Mispronouncing as /ˈændʒuː/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. When referring to the historical French province or its people, it is capitalised ('Anjou'). When referring to the pear variety, it is often not capitalised ('anjou pear'), though you may see both forms.
In English, it is typically pronounced /ˈɒnʒuː/ (UK) or /ˈɑːnʒuː/ (US), with a soft 'zh' sound like in 'measure', not a hard 'j'.
The main difference is skin colour. Green Anjou pears remain green even when ripe, while Red Anjou pears have a dark red skin. Their flavours and textures are very similar.
Yes, in two contexts. 1) To describe something from the Anjou region (e.g., Anjou cuisine). 2) To describe the type of pear (e.g., Anjou pear). It is not used as a general adjective.
A variety of pear with a greenish-yellow skin.
Anjou is usually specialist/formal in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No common idioms”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'AN Joyful JOU'rney to France for a green pear.' ANJOU.
Conceptual Metaphor
NOUN IS ORIGIN (the pear is named for its place of origin).
Practice
Quiz
What is 'Anjou' primarily known as in modern English?