Is 'cordon bleu' always about cooking?

No, but that is its dominant modern association. Historically, it referred to a person of high distinction in any field, but today it is almost exclusively culinary.

Do you write it as one word or two?

Typically two words ('cordon bleu'), especially when used as a noun phrase (e.g., 'a cordon bleu'). It is often hyphenated when used as a compound modifier before a noun (e.g., 'cordon-bleu chef') or for the dish name ('chicken cordon-bleu').

What is typically inside a chicken cordon bleu?

A chicken breast is pounded thin, layered with ham (or prosciutto) and cheese (often Swiss, Emmental, or Gruyère), then rolled, breaded, and pan-fried or baked.

Can 'cordon bleu' be used for a female chef?

Yes. The French term is grammatically masculine, but in English, it is used as an invariant adjective/noun. You would say 'She is a cordon bleu chef'.

Is “cordonbleu” formal?

Cordonbleu is usually formal, culinary in register.

How do you pronounce “cordonbleu”?

Cordonbleu: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkɔː.dɒ̃ ˈblɜː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkɔːr.dɑ̃ ˈbluː/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

cordonbleu: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Low

UK/ˌkɔː.dɒ̃ ˈblɜː/US/ˌkɔːr.dɑ̃ ˈbluː/

Formal, Culinary

My Flashcards

Quick answer

What does “cordonbleu” mean?

A person of great distinction, especially a cook of the highest class.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

A person of great distinction, especially a cook of the highest class; also, a dish of chicken, ham, and cheese that is breaded and fried.

Traditionally used to denote excellence, particularly in culinary arts, derived from the French 'blue ribbon'. Now commonly refers to a specific chicken dish and to prestigious cooking schools.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

Both varieties primarily use the term for the chicken dish and the prestigious cooking schools. The metaphorical sense ('a person of great distinction') is more archaic and rarely used in everyday conversation in either variety.

Connotations

In both, it strongly connotes French cuisine, high culinary skill, and sophistication. The name of the dish suggests a restaurant-quality meal.

Frequency

Equally low-frequency in general discourse. More common in culinary contexts, cookbooks, and menus.

Grammar

How to Use “cordonbleu” in a Sentence

[adj] cordon bleu [noun] (e.g., 'a cordon bleu chef')[noun] cordon bleu (e.g., 'chicken cordon bleu')

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

chicken cordon bleucordon bleu schoolcordon bleu chefcordon bleu cookery

medium

cordon bleu trainingcordon bleu diplomamake cordon bleuserve cordon bleu

weak

cordon bleu standardcordon bleu recipefrozen cordon bleuclassic cordon bleu

Examples

Examples of “cordonbleu” in a Sentence

verb

British English

[No standard verb use]

American English

[No standard verb use]

adverb

British English

[No standard adverbial use]

American English

[No standard adverbial use]

adjective

British English

She attended a prestigious cordon bleu cookery school in London.
He has a cordon bleu background in pastry.

American English

She trained at a famous cordon bleu culinary institute.
The dinner party had a cordon bleu feel to it.

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Used in hospitality/tourism marketing (e.g., 'cordon bleu catering services').

Academic

Rare, except in historical or cultural studies of cuisine.

Everyday

Almost exclusively used to refer to the specific chicken dish (e.g., 'What's for dinner?' 'Chicken cordon bleu.').

Technical

Used in professional culinary education and certifications.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “cordonbleu”

Strong

master chefculinary experttop-tier chef

Neutral

gourmet haute cuisinefine dining

Weak

skilled cookfancy chicken dish

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “cordonbleu”

short-order cookfast foodhome cookingbasic recipe

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “cordonbleu”

Misspelling: 'cordon blue', 'cordonblu'.
Incorrect pronunciation: stressing 'cordon' instead of giving roughly equal weight to both words.
Using it as a general adjective for any good food (e.g., 'This pizza is cordon bleu!' is non-standard).

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: No, but that is its dominant modern association. Historically, it referred to a person of high distinction in any field, but today it is almost exclusively culinary.
: Typically two words ('cordon bleu'), especially when used as a noun phrase (e.g., 'a cordon bleu'). It is often hyphenated when used as a compound modifier before a noun (e.g., 'cordon-bleu chef') or for the dish name ('chicken cordon-bleu').
: A chicken breast is pounded thin, layered with ham (or prosciutto) and cheese (often Swiss, Emmental, or Gruyère), then rolled, breaded, and pan-fried or baked.
: Yes. The French term is grammatically masculine, but in English, it is used as an invariant adjective/noun. You would say 'She is a cordon bleu chef'.
: A person of great distinction, especially a cook of the highest class.
: Cordonbleu is usually formal, culinary in register.
: Cordonbleu: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkɔː.dɒ̃ ˈblɜː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkɔːr.dɑ̃ ˈbluː/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

“[No specific idioms. The term itself is a borrowed idiom meaning 'blue ribbon'.]”

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think of a CHEF with a BLUE RIBBON pinned to their uniform, serving a special CHICKEN dish. The blue ribbon (cordon bleu) marks the highest quality.

Conceptual Metaphor

EXCELLENCE IS A BLUE RIBBON (The blue ribbon is a metaphor for first prize or highest rank).

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

For our anniversary dinner, I prepared a classic , stuffing the chicken breast with ham and Emmental cheese.

Multiple Choice

What is the origin of the term 'cordon bleu' in its sense of 'highest quality'?