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coq au vin: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Low
UK/ˌkɒk əʊ ˈvæ̃/US/ˌkoʊk oʊ ˈvæn/

Formal to neutral, culinary

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Quick answer

What does “coq au vin” mean?

A classic French dish of chicken braised in red wine, typically with mushrooms, lardons (small strips or cubes of pork fat), onions, and garlic.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

A classic French dish of chicken braised in red wine, typically with mushrooms, lardons (small strips or cubes of pork fat), onions, and garlic.

A rich, slow-cooked stew representing rustic French cuisine; often used as a symbol of French provincial cooking or comfort food. The name literally translates from French as 'rooster in wine', historically using a mature bird.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

Equally recognized in both varieties. No significant difference in usage, though UK English may show slightly higher familiarity due to geographical proximity to France.

Connotations

Connotes sophistication, classic French cooking, and hearty, flavourful food in both varieties.

Frequency

Low frequency in general conversation but common in culinary contexts. Slightly more common in UK food media.

Grammar

How to Use “coq au vin” in a Sentence

We ate [coq au vin] for dinner.She cooked [a delicious coq au vin].The restaurant's signature dish is [coq au vin].

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
classic coq au vintraditional coq au vinto make coq au vinto serve coq au vinrecipe for coq au vin
medium
chicken coq au vinhearty coq au vinslow-cooked coq au vina portion of coq au vinto braise coq au vin
weak
delicious coq au vinFrench coq au vinhomemade coq au vinrich coq au vinwarm coq au vin

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Rare, except in hospitality/tourism (e.g., 'Our bistro's coq au vin is a best-seller.').

Academic

Rare, except in culinary history or cultural studies.

Everyday

Used when discussing food, cooking, or restaurants.

Technical

Used in professional cookery and menu planning.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “coq au vin”

Strong

coq au vin blanc (a variant using white wine)

Neutral

chicken in red wineFrench chicken stew

Weak

braised chickenrustic stewFrench casserole

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “coq au vin”

grilled chicken breastroast chickenfast food

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “coq au vin”

  • Mispronouncing 'vin' to rhyme with 'bin' instead of a nasal vowel /væ̃/ or /væn/.
  • Misspelling as 'coq au vain' or 'coq au van'.
  • Using it as a verb (e.g., 'I'm going to coq au vin the chicken').

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

It literally translates from French as 'rooster in wine'.

It is a moderately challenging dish due to the braising process and layering of flavours, but it is achievable for home cooks.

Yes, but the dish would then correctly be called 'coq au vin blanc' (chicken in white wine).

No, 'coq' is pronounced more like 'cock' (/kɒk/ in UK English, /koʊk/ in US English).

A classic French dish of chicken braised in red wine, typically with mushrooms, lardons (small strips or cubes of pork fat), onions, and garlic.

Coq au vin is usually formal to neutral, culinary in register.

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

  • “As French as coq au vin (though less common than 'as French as baguettes').”

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Imagine a COCK (coq) rowing a boat IN (au) a VINe-yard full of grapes for wine.

Conceptual Metaphor

COMFORTING FOOD IS A WARM EMBRACE; TRADITIONAL CUISINE IS CULTURAL HERITAGE.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
The hearty was the perfect meal for a cold winter's evening.
Multiple Choice

What is the primary liquid used for braising in coq au vin?

coq au vin: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples | Lingvocore