crottin: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal (in culinary/cheese context), Technical/Specialist
Quick answer
What does “crottin” mean?
A small, round, dry cheese from France, traditionally made from goat's milk.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A small, round, dry cheese from France, traditionally made from goat's milk.
A specific term in the dairy/culinary world for a class of small, matured goat cheeses, often with a distinctive rind and strong flavour. The word is directly borrowed from French, where it also means "animal droppings," due to the shape.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant usage difference. The term is equally specialised in both varieties.
Connotations
Connotes gourmet food, French cuisine, and specialty cheese shops equally in both regions.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general language. Slightly higher frequency in UK food writing due to geographical proximity to France, but the difference is negligible.
Grammar
How to Use “crottin” in a Sentence
[a/the] + ADJECTIVE + crottincrottin + of + ORIGINcrottin + PREPOSITION + salad/dishVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “crottin” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The crottin cheese was perfectly ripe.
American English
- She preferred a crottin-style goat cheese.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in the context of gourmet food import/export, restaurant supply, or specialty retail.
Academic
May appear in papers on food history, gastronomy, or agricultural studies.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation outside specific foodie contexts.
Technical
Standard term in professional culinary, cheesemongering, and sommellerie contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “crottin”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “crottin”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “crottin”
- Mispronouncing it as /ˈkrɒtɪn/ (like 'cotton' with an 'r').
- Using it as a general term for any goat cheese.
- Capitalising it (it's not a proper noun unless part of a protected name like 'Crottin de Chavignol').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. In English, it is almost exclusively a culinary term for a cheese. Its original French meaning (animal droppings) is known but not the primary association in English-speaking contexts.
In British English, it's approximately /ˈkrɒtæ̃/ ('KROT-an' with a nasal 'an'). In American English, it's often /kroʊˈtæn/ ('kroh-TAN'). The final 'n' is pronounced.
No. It specifically refers to a small, round, aged goat cheese from France, most famously the 'Crottin de Chavignol'. Using it for other cheeses would be incorrect.
The name comes from the French word 'crotte', meaning 'animal droppings'. This is due to the cheese's small, round shape and its traditionally dark, mottled rind, which was thought to resemble a goat dropping.
A small, round, dry cheese from France, traditionally made from goat's milk.
Crottin is usually formal (in culinary/cheese context), technical/specialist in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: A small, round **crottin** looks a bit like a **rock** (sounds like 'crot') that's **tin**y. It's a tiny, hard cheese.
Conceptual Metaphor
SPECIALTY/ARTISANAL FOOD IS A CULTURAL ARTEFACT.
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'crottin' primarily?