Is 'entremets' singular or plural?

In English, 'entremets' is typically treated as a singular noun (e.g., "The entremets was delicious") despite its French plural form. The singular 'entremet' is rarely used.

Can an entremets be savoury?

Historically, yes. While modern usage strongly leans towards sweet, ornate dishes, in earlier centuries, entremets could include elaborate savoury presentations like sculpted pies or decorative roasts meant for spectacle.

What is the difference between an entremets and a dessert?

Dessert is the final sweet course of a meal. An entremets is specifically an interstitial course, served *between* main courses, often intended to refresh or amuse, and may be lighter or less sweet than a final dessert.

Should I use this word in everyday English?

No. It is a highly specialized term. In modern contexts, 'palate cleanser', 'intermezzo', or simply 'dessert' are far more widely understood and appropriate.

Is “entremets” formal?

Entremets is usually formal, historical, culinary / gastronomy in register.

How do you pronounce “entremets”?

Entremets: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɒntrəmeɪ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɑːntrəˈmeɪ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

entremets: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Very Low / C2

UK/ˈɒntrəmeɪ/US/ˌɑːntrəˈmeɪ/

Formal, Historical, Culinary / Gastronomy

My Flashcards

Quick answer

What does “entremets” mean?

A sweet dish or dessert served between courses, or a side dish served between main courses, in a formal meal.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

A sweet dish or dessert served between courses, or a side dish served between main courses, in a formal meal.

More broadly, it can refer to any elaborate, decorative side dish or a light, often sweet, culinary interlude. In historical and high culinary contexts, it denotes intricate, artistic dishes designed to entertain and delight guests.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

Both varieties use the term identically, but it is marginally more likely to appear in British historical or formal culinary texts due to the stronger tradition of French culinary terms in UK English. In contemporary US English, 'intermezzo' (Italian) or simply 'palate cleanser'/'dessert' are more common.

Connotations

Connotes extreme formality, old-world luxury, and intricate culinary craftsmanship in both varieties.

Frequency

Extremely low frequency in both, primarily confined to specialized texts. Slightly higher passive recognition in BrE.

Grammar

How to Use “entremets” in a Sentence

The [adjective] entremets was served.They prepared an entremets of [noun].A [noun] functioned as the entremets.

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

elaborate entremetssweet entremetstraditional entremetsserved as an entremets

medium

a frozen entremetsan iced entremetsthe entremets course

weak

delicious entremetsFrench entremetshistorical entremets

Examples

Examples of “entremets” in a Sentence

verb

British English

[No standard verbal use exists]

American English

[No standard verbal use exists]

adverb

British English

[No standard adverbial use exists]

American English

[No standard adverbial use exists]

adjective

British English

[No standard adjectival use exists]

American English

[No standard adjectival use exists]

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Virtually never used.

Academic

Used in historical, cultural, or culinary studies discussing medieval banquets, French haute cuisine history, or the evolution of dining etiquette.

Everyday

Not used in everyday conversation.

Technical

Specific to professional culinary arts, gastronomy, and food history writing.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “entremets”

Strong

intermezzo (Italian context)sorbet coursedigestif course

Neutral

dessertsweet coursepalate cleanser

Weak

side dish accompaniment

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “entremets”

main course entréesavoury dish

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “entremets”

Mispronouncing it as 'en-TREE-mets'.
Using it to mean 'appetizer' or 'starter'.
Spelling it as 'entremet' (singular) when referring to the course/concept (often used as an invariant plural in English).

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: In English, 'entremets' is typically treated as a singular noun (e.g., "The entremets was delicious") despite its French plural form. The singular 'entremet' is rarely used.
: Historically, yes. While modern usage strongly leans towards sweet, ornate dishes, in earlier centuries, entremets could include elaborate savoury presentations like sculpted pies or decorative roasts meant for spectacle.
: Dessert is the final sweet course of a meal. An entremets is specifically an interstitial course, served *between* main courses, often intended to refresh or amuse, and may be lighter or less sweet than a final dessert.
: No. It is a highly specialized term. In modern contexts, 'palate cleanser', 'intermezzo', or simply 'dessert' are far more widely understood and appropriate.
: A sweet dish or dessert served between courses, or a side dish served between main courses, in a formal meal.
: Entremets is usually formal, historical, culinary / gastronomy in register.
: Entremets: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɒntrəmeɪ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɑːntrəˈmeɪ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

“[No common idioms exist for this low-frequency term]”

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Imagine a fancy French waiter saying, "*Entre* (between) the *mets* (meals/dish), monsieur," as he serves a tiny, beautiful dessert.

Conceptual Metaphor

ARTISTIC INTERLUDE (The dish is a small, crafted performance between the main acts of the meal).

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

In a traditional French grand dinner, the , often a sweet or frozen dish, is served to cleanse the palate between the main courses.

Multiple Choice

What is the primary characteristic of an 'entremets' in formal dining?