delicatessen
B2Neutral to formal in its core meaning; the extended, metaphorical use is more informal.
Definition
Meaning
A shop selling high-quality, often unusual or imported, foods such as cheeses, cold meats, and prepared salads.
The high-quality, ready-to-eat foods sold in such a shop; or, by extension, a selection of fine or exotic foods. The term can also be used informally to describe a mixture or variety of things.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The core meaning refers to a physical shop (a 'deli'), but the term itself is also used as a mass noun for the products sold therein. While often shortened to 'deli' in informal contexts, 'delicatessen' carries a slightly more formal or traditional connotation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The word is used in both varieties, but the shortened form 'deli' is extremely common in both. In American English, 'deli' strongly connotes a place selling sandwiches, cold cuts, and salads, often with Jewish or New York culinary associations. In British English, it may more broadly indicate a specialist food shop, sometimes with continental European associations.
Connotations
In the US, it often evokes urban, immigrant (particularly Jewish or Italian) food culture. In the UK, it suggests artisanal, gourmet, or continental European foods.
Frequency
'Deli' is significantly more frequent than 'delicatessen' in casual speech in both regions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
buy [something] from the/a delicatessenstop at the delicatessen for [something]work in/at a delicatessenthe delicatessen on [street name]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A veritable delicatessen of [ideas/information] (metaphorical use)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in retail, hospitality, and food industry contexts to describe a type of food outlet.
Academic
Rare in core academic texts; might appear in cultural studies, history, or sociology discussing food, migration, or urban commerce.
Everyday
Common when discussing shopping for special foods, lunches, or catering.
Technical
Not a technical term.
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- We popped into the delicatessen on the high street for some olives and Serrano ham.
- The farm shop has a small delicatessen section selling local cheeses.
American English
- I'll grab a pastrami sandwich from the delicatessen on 7th Avenue.
- The supermarket has a full-service delicatessen where you can order sliced meats.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- There is a delicatessen near my house.
- I bought some salad and cold meat from the delicatessen for our picnic.
- The new delicatessen offers a fascinating array of imported cheeses and Mediterranean antipasti.
- Her latest essay is a delicatessen of obscure historical references and bold theoretical claims.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'delicate' + 'essen' (German for 'to eat') – a place for delicate, fine foods to eat.
Conceptual Metaphor
A DELICATESSEN IS A TREASURE TROVE/CULTURAL MOSAIC (source of valuable, diverse items).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not a 'деликатес' (delicacy) which is a type of food. It is a 'гастроном' or 'магазин деликатесов'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'delicatessen' as a countable noun for a single food item (e.g., 'This cheese is a lovely delicatessen' – incorrect). Using it as a synonym for 'restaurant'.
Practice
Quiz
What is the most common informal shortening of 'delicatessen'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it was borrowed from German ('Delikatessen'), which itself came from French 'délicatesse' meaning 'delicacy, fine food'.
A delicatessen primarily sells food to take away, though some may have limited seating. A café's primary business is serving drinks and light meals for consumption on the premises.
Not in standard usage. It is almost exclusively used for shops or, metaphorically, for collections of things.
It is pronounced the same as the singular, with an added /z/ sound at the end: /ˌdelɪkəˈtes(ə)nz/.