chabrol: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowSpecialized / Culinary / Regional
Quick answer
What does “chabrol” mean?
A culinary term referring to the practice of adding a small amount of wine to a soup bowl after eating to rinse it, and then drinking it.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A culinary term referring to the practice of adding a small amount of wine to a soup bowl after eating to rinse it, and then drinking it.
Primarily used in regional French cuisine, specifically from the Auvergne and Cantal regions. It describes a rustic, informal ritual of finishing a meal, often with friends, where one enjoys the combined flavors of leftover soup and wine directly from the bowl. The term can evoke a sense of conviviality and frugality.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Equally rare in both varieties. If used, it is in the context of food writing, culinary anthropology, or travelogues describing French customs.
Connotations
Conveys authenticity, rustic French tradition, and informal, hearty dining.
Frequency
Extremely rare. Encountered almost exclusively in specialized culinary texts, food blogs, or travel writing about rural France.
Grammar
How to Use “chabrol” in a Sentence
[Subject] + did the chabrol + [with wine]We + enjoyed + a chabrol + after the potage.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “chabrol” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- They decided to chabrol with the last of the Beaujolais.
- After the leek soup, he chabrolled enthusiastically.
American English
- We might chabrol with this Cabernet.
- He chabrolled his bowl before heading home.
adjective
British English
- It was a real chabrol moment, full of laughter.
- The chabrol tradition is fading.
American English
- He explained the chabrol custom to the visitors.
- It had a chabrol-like informality.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
Used in papers on European ethnography, culinary history, or cultural anthropology.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday English conversation.
Technical
A technical term in gastronomy and culinary anthropology.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “chabrol”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “chabrol”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “chabrol”
- Mispronouncing it as /ˈtʃæbrəl/ (like 'chablis').
- Using it as a verb for general drinking ('We chabrolled some wine').
- Assuming it is a type of soup or wine rather than a practice.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a very low-frequency loanword used almost exclusively in contexts discussing French cuisine or rural customs.
In specialized culinary writing, it is sometimes verbalized (e.g., 'to chabrol'), but this is non-standard in general English.
It connotes rustic simplicity, frugality, and communal, informal dining in a specifically French regional context.
In British English, it's approximately /ʃæˈbrɒl/ (sha-BROL). In American English, it's closer to /ʃɑːˈbroʊl/ (shah-BROHL).
A culinary term referring to the practice of adding a small amount of wine to a soup bowl after eating to rinse it, and then drinking it.
Chabrol is usually specialized / culinary / regional in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Do the chabrol”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a cheerful French person named 'Chloé' who, after her soup (broth), rolls (like 'roll' in 'br-ol') a bit of red wine in her bowl to enjoy. Chloe-broth-roll = Chabrol.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE MEAL IS A RITUAL (where chabrol is the concluding act of communion).
Practice
Quiz
What does the term 'chabrol' specifically refer to?