foie gras: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal/Culinary
Quick answer
What does “foie gras” mean?
A luxury food product made from the fattened liver of a duck or goose.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A luxury food product made from the fattened liver of a duck or goose.
Also used metonymically to represent extreme luxury, decadence, or the controversial practices associated with its production.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Pronunciation and spelling identical. Both regions may show similar patterns of ethical awareness or avoidance.
Connotations
Connotes haute cuisine, extravagance, and gourmet dining. Increasingly carries strong negative ethical connotations due to animal welfare concerns.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in UK media and menus due to historical French culinary influence, but the difference is marginal.
Grammar
How to Use “foie gras” in a Sentence
to serve [foie gras] as a starterto produce [foie gras] in Franceto be made from [foie gras]a terrine of [foie gras]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “foie gras” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The chef will foie gras the terrine with a port reduction. (Note: extremely rare, non-standard verb use)
American English
- They attempted to foie gras the duck liver using traditional methods. (Note: extremely rare, non-standard verb use)
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverbial use]
American English
- [No standard adverbial use]
adjective
British English
- The foie gras mousse was exceptionally smooth.
- A foie gras ban is being considered by the council.
American English
- The foie gras torchon is the chef's signature.
- The foie gras controversy dominated the food section.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in hospitality, catering, and import/export industries regarding luxury goods.
Academic
Appears in texts on gastronomy, food ethics, animal welfare studies, and cultural studies.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation except when discussing fine dining or ethical food choices.
Technical
Specific term in culinary arts and food science for the processed, fat-infiltrated liver.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “foie gras”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “foie gras”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “foie gras”
- Pronouncing it as 'foy grass'.
- Treating it as a countable noun (e.g., 'two foie gras').
- Spelling as 'foi gras' or 'foi gras'.
- Confusing it with general pâté or liverwurst.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It literally translates to 'fat liver'.
The controversy stems from the traditional production method of force-feeding birds (gavage) to fatten their livers, which many consider inhumane.
Yes, several countries and jurisdictions (including the UK, parts of the USA like California, and some European nations) have banned its production or sale due to animal welfare concerns.
Foie gras is specifically the fattened liver itself, or a preparation where it is the primary ingredient. Pâté is a broader term for a paste, often containing liver, which may or may not include foie gras.
A luxury food product made from the fattened liver of a duck or goose.
Foie gras is usually formal/culinary in register.
Foie gras: in British English it is pronounced /ˌfwɑː ˈɡrɑː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌfwɑ ˈɡrɑː/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[none specific to the term]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'foie' sounds like 'fwah' of disapproval some have for its production, and 'gras' sounds like 'grass' but is actually French for 'fat' (as in the liver).
Conceptual Metaphor
FOIE GRAS IS LUXURY / FOIE GRAS IS CONTROVERSY
Practice
Quiz
What is 'foie gras' primarily made from?