creme de framboise: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Low (Specialized/Technical)
UK/ˌkrɛm də frɒ̃ˈbwɑːz/US/ˌkrɛm də frɑːmˈbwɑːz/

Formal/Culinary

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Quick answer

What does “creme de framboise” mean?

A French raspberry-flavored liqueur.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

A French raspberry-flavored liqueur.

A sweet, strong alcoholic beverage made by infusing neutral spirit with raspberries and sugar, traditionally served as a digestif or used in cocktails.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

Usage is identical. Both varieties of English adopt the French term. It may be italicized as a foreign term in formal writing in both regions.

Connotations

Associated with sophistication, fine dining, and cocktail culture. No regional difference in connotation.

Frequency

Equally low frequency in both varieties, limited to specific contexts like menus, drink recipes, or gourmet discussions.

Grammar

How to Use “creme de framboise” in a Sentence

[Subject] contains crème de framboise.[Verb] a splash of crème de framboise.The [noun] is made with crème de framboise.

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
glass of crème de framboisecrème de framboise liqueurcrème de framboise cocktail
medium
pour the crème de framboiserecipe with crème de framboiseflavour of crème de framboise
weak
sweet crème de framboiseFrench crème de framboisebuy crème de framboise

Examples

Examples of “creme de framboise” in a Sentence

verb

British English

  • [It is a noun phrase; no verb form.]

American English

  • [It is a noun phrase; no verb form.]

adverb

British English

  • [It is a noun phrase; no adverb form.]

American English

  • [It is a noun phrase; no adverb form.]

adjective

British English

  • [It is a noun phrase; not used attributively.]

American English

  • [It is a noun phrase; not used attributively.]

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Used in the beverage industry, import/export, or hospitality procurement.

Academic

Rare. Possibly in culinary history or food science studies.

Everyday

Used when discussing cocktails, describing a drink, or reading a menu.

Technical

Standard term in mixology, bartending, and gourmet cooking.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “creme de framboise”

Strong

framboise (in a drinks context)

Neutral

raspberry liqueur

Weak

raspberry spiritraspberry cordial (though cordial is typically non-alcoholic)

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “creme de framboise”

dry spiritunsweetened liquor

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “creme de framboise”

  • Mispronouncing 'framboise' as /fræmˈbɔɪz/ or /ˈfræm.bɔɪs/.
  • Misspelling as 'creme de frambois', 'creme de framboyse'.
  • Confusing it with 'crème de cassis' (blackcurrant liqueur).

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

No. The word 'crème' in this context refers to the liqueur's sweet, creamy texture, not to an ingredient.

In an English context, it's commonly pronounced in a semi-anglicized way: /frɑːmˈbwɑːz/ in American English and /frɒ̃ˈbwɑːz/ (with a nasal vowel) in British English.

Yes, it can be used to flavor desserts like chocolate fondants, fruit salads, or sauces, though the alcohol may not fully cook off.

Crème de framboise is an alcoholic liqueur (typically 15-30% ABV), while raspberry syrup is non-alcoholic and used primarily as a flavoring or topping.

A French raspberry-flavored liqueur.

Creme de framboise is usually formal/culinary in register.

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

  • [No specific idioms. It is a fixed noun phrase.]

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think of a fancy French CREAM (crème) made from delicious FRAMED raspberries (framboise) in a bottle.

Conceptual Metaphor

LIQUOR IS A CONCENTRATED FRUIT / A SOPHISTICATED INDULGENCE

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
The Kir Royal cocktail is traditionally made with champagne and a dash of .
Multiple Choice

What is 'crème de framboise'?