carte du jour: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal / Culinary
Quick answer
What does “carte du jour” mean?
The menu of dishes available at a restaurant on a particular day, as distinct from the standard, permanent menu.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The menu of dishes available at a restaurant on a particular day, as distinct from the standard, permanent menu.
A list of daily specials or items specifically prepared and offered on a given day. Metaphorically, it can refer to any plan, agenda, or list of items for the day's proceedings.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both recognize the term, but it is more commonly seen in the UK in traditional fine dining establishments. In the US, the term 'specials menu' or 'daily specials' is more prevalent in casual use.
Connotations
In both regions, it connotes sophistication, freshness, and higher-end dining. In the UK, it may carry a slightly more traditional or classic restaurant association.
Frequency
Infrequent in everyday speech in both; primarily confined to restaurant contexts. More likely to be encountered in writing (e.g., on a menu board) than in spoken conversation.
Grammar
How to Use “carte du jour” in a Sentence
The [restaurant] offers a [adjective] carte du jour.Please ask for the carte du jour.I'll have the soup from the carte du jour.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
[Not applicable in standard business contexts. Could be used metaphorically in a very creative setting for 'agenda']
Academic
[Not applicable in standard academic contexts]
Everyday
Used when discussing dining out, particularly at nicer restaurants. E.g., 'Let's see what's on the carte du jour before we decide.'
Technical
Specific term in the culinary and hospitality industries for a type of menu.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “carte du jour”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “carte du jour”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “carte du jour”
- Pronouncing 'jour' with a hard English 'J' sound (/dʒɔːr/) instead of the French /ʒ/ sound.
- Using it to refer to the main, permanent menu.
- Misspelling as 'carte de jour'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. 'À la carte' refers to ordering individual dishes from a full, standard menu. 'Carte du jour' specifically refers to the separate menu of daily specials.
Approximately as 'kart duh zhoor'. The 'zh' sound is like the 's' in 'pleasure'. The final 'r' in 'jour' is very soft or silent in the British pronunciation, lightly pronounced in the American.
It would sound affected or overly formal. In a casual setting, terms like 'daily specials', 'today's specials', or simply 'specials board' are more natural.
Often, yes. As a direct, unassimilated borrowing from French, it is frequently italicized in writing (e.g., on menus or in descriptive prose) to indicate its foreign origin.
The menu of dishes available at a restaurant on a particular day, as distinct from the standard, permanent menu.
Carte du jour is usually formal / culinary in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Rarely used idiomatically; the term itself is idiomatic.]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'CART of the DAY' — the cart that brings out the fresh, special dishes for today only.
Conceptual Metaphor
A DAILY AGENDA IS A MENU (e.g., 'What's on the carte du jour for the meeting?').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'carte du jour' MOST appropriately used?