chasseur: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Formal, technical (military/historical/culinary)
Quick answer
What does “chasseur” mean?
A professional hunter, especially in a French or military context.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A professional hunter, especially in a French or military context; a member of a light infantry or cavalry unit.
In culinary contexts, a rich brown sauce made with mushrooms, shallots, white wine, and sometimes tomato; a dish prepared with this sauce.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'chasseur' is more likely to be encountered in historical/military texts or high-end restaurants. In American English, it is almost exclusively a culinary term.
Connotations
UK: historical military elite, fox hunting circles. US: menu term for a specific sauce style.
Frequency
Low frequency in both varieties, but slightly higher in UK English due to historical and military literature.
Grammar
How to Use “chasseur” in a Sentence
[Chasseur] + [verb] (e.g., The chasseur tracked the game.)[Dish] + [preposition] + [chasseur] (e.g., chicken cooked in a chasseur sauce.)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “chasseur” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The chasseur battalions were renowned for their mobility.
- We enjoyed a classic chasseur sauce with the guinea fowl.
American English
- The menu listed a chasseur-style chicken breast.
- He ordered the steak with a mushroom chasseur sauce.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly in branding for outdoor/hunting apparel or high-end restaurants.
Academic
History/Military Studies: referring to specific French light troops. Culinary Arts: describing a classic sauce.
Everyday
Very rare. Might be seen on a restaurant menu.
Technical
Specific military historical terminology; specific culinary terminology.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “chasseur”
- Mispronouncing it as /tʃæˈsɜːr/ (with a 'ch' as in 'church').
- Using it as a general synonym for 'soldier' instead of the specific light infantry/cavalry meaning.
- Misspelling as 'chassuer' or 'chassear'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency, specialised borrowing from French, used primarily in historical/military writing and on gourmet menus.
'Hunter' is the general English term. 'Chasseur' specifically denotes a professional hunter, often in a French context, or a soldier in a French light troop unit. It carries cultural and historical connotations that 'hunter' does not.
No, it is only used as a noun or an adjective (e.g., chasseur sauce). The verb form 'chasser' exists in French but is not adopted into English.
The initial sound is 'sh' (/ʃ/), not 'ch' as in 'chair'. In British English, it's /ˈʃæsɜː/. In American English, the stress often shifts: /ʃæˈsɜːr/.
A professional hunter, especially in a French or military context.
Chasseur is usually formal, technical (military/historical/culinary) in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly, but 'à la chasseur' is used culinarily to mean 'hunter-style'.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a CHEF (sounds like 'chasseur') in a French restaurant hunting for the perfect mushrooms for his signature SAUCE.
Conceptual Metaphor
HUNTING IS PURSUING/CATCHING (culinary: capturing flavours).
Practice
Quiz
In a 19th-century European military context, a 'chasseur' was most specifically: