Is 'fondue' only a cheese dish?

No. While cheese fondue is the original Swiss version, the term also covers fondue bourguignonne (hot oil for meat) and chocolate fondue.

Can 'fondue' be used as a verb?

Yes, informally. It means to prepare or eat fondue (e.g., 'We're fonduing tonight'). This is a modern back-formation.

Is fondue common in everyday cooking?

Not typically. It is considered a special occasion or social meal due to the required equipment and communal eating style.

What's the key equipment for fondue?

A fondue pot (caquelon), a heat source (rechaud), and long-stemmed forks for dipping.

Is “fondue” formal?

Fondue is usually neutral to informal in register.

How do you pronounce “fondue”?

Fondue: in British English it is pronounced /ˈfɒndjuː/, and in American English it is pronounced /fɑnˈduː/ or /ˈfɑnduː/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

fondue: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

UK/ˈfɒndjuː/US/fɑnˈduː/ or /ˈfɑnduː/

Neutral to Informal

My Flashcards

Quick answer

What does “fondue” mean?

A Swiss dish of melted cheese, oil, or chocolate into which small pieces of food are dipped.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

A Swiss dish of melted cheese, oil, or chocolate into which small pieces of food are dipped.

Any social meal or gathering centered around dipping food into a shared pot of melted liquid.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant differences in meaning. 'Fondue' is recognized equally as a loanword from French/Swiss culture.

Connotations

Connotes a social, somewhat retro or cozy dining experience in both varieties.

Frequency

Similar, moderate frequency, associated with specific dining contexts rather than everyday speech.

Grammar

How to Use “fondue” in a Sentence

to have [a] fondueto make/prepare [a] fondueto dip [something] in[to] [the] fondue

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

cheese fonduechocolate fondueoil fonduemake fondueserve fondue

medium

fondue potfondue setfondue forkhave fonduetraditional fondue

weak

fondue partyfondue eveningdelicious fonduecommunal fonduehot fondue

Examples

Examples of “fondue” in a Sentence

verb

British English

We're going to fondue tonight.
They fondue with bread and vegetables.

American English

Let's fondue this weekend.
She fondued the steak in the hot oil.

adverb

British English

This is not used.

American English

This is not used.

adjective

British English

It was a fondue night.
They bought a new fondue set.

American English

We're having a fondue party.
The fondue pot is electric.

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Rare, except in hospitality/tourism marketing.

Academic

Rare, except in culinary or cultural studies.

Everyday

Used in social/food contexts.

Technical

Used in culinary arts.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “fondue”

Strong

cheese dipchocolate dip

Neutral

diphot pot (context-specific)

Weak

communal dishshared meal

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “fondue”

individual portionplated dishà la carte

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “fondue”

Using 'fondue' as a countable noun without an article (e.g., 'We had fondue' is correct; 'We had fondues' is less common). Confusing cheese, oil, and chocolate types as fundamentally different dishes rather than variations of the same concept.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: No. While cheese fondue is the original Swiss version, the term also covers fondue bourguignonne (hot oil for meat) and chocolate fondue.
: Yes, informally. It means to prepare or eat fondue (e.g., 'We're fonduing tonight'). This is a modern back-formation.
: Not typically. It is considered a special occasion or social meal due to the required equipment and communal eating style.
: A fondue pot (caquelon), a heat source (rechaud), and long-stemmed forks for dipping.
: A Swiss dish of melted cheese, oil, or chocolate into which small pieces of food are dipped.
: Fondue is usually neutral to informal in register.
: Fondue: in British English it is pronounced /ˈfɒndjuː/, and in American English it is pronounced /fɑnˈduː/ or /ˈfɑnduː/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

“fondue of ideas (rare, metaphorical)”

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

FOND of U? A fondue is a meal you share with people you're fond of, dipping food together.

Conceptual Metaphor

COMMUNAL ACTIVITY IS A SHARED POT (a central source that brings individuals together).

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

For our party, we'll need a set with long forks for everyone.

Multiple Choice

What is the most traditional type of fondue?