marrons glaces: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, culinary, gourmet
Quick answer
What does “marrons glaces” mean?
Candied chestnuts – sweet chestnuts that have been cooked in a sugar syrup until glazed and preserved.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Candied chestnuts – sweet chestnuts that have been cooked in a sugar syrup until glazed and preserved.
An expensive, luxurious confectionery often associated with festive periods and gourmet food; sometimes used metaphorically to describe something indulgent, richly sweet, or elaborately prepared.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The term is borrowed and used identically. Pronunciation may follow slightly different anglicization patterns.
Connotations
Both varieties strongly associate it with luxury, Christmas, and French cuisine.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both varieties, confined to gourmet/culinary contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “marrons glaces” in a Sentence
[serve/buy/give] + marrons glacés + [as a gift/for dessert][a box/small bag] + of + marrons glacésVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in contexts of luxury food import/export, gourmet retail, and hospitality marketing.
Academic
Rare; may appear in culinary history, food anthropology, or French cultural studies.
Everyday
Very rare in general conversation; used when discussing specific gourmet foods or Christmas traditions.
Technical
Used in patisserie and confectionery contexts regarding specific preparation methods (candying, glacé process).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “marrons glaces”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “marrons glaces”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “marrons glaces”
- Using it as a singular noun (e.g., 'a marron glacé'). In English, it is almost always used in the plural French form.
- Mispronouncing 'glacés' with a hard 'c' /k/ sound; it should be a soft 'c' /s/.
- Spelling as 'maroons glazed'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a plural noun borrowed from French. In English, it is almost always used in its plural form to refer to the confection.
Here, 'glacé' (from French) means 'glazed' or 'iced' with sugar, not 'frozen'. It refers to the sugar-coating process.
They are strongly associated with Christmas and New Year celebrations in many European countries, particularly France and Italy, as a luxury festive treat.
Yes, but the process is lengthy and technically demanding, involving peeling chestnuts, repeatedly simmering them in sugar syrup over days, and finally glazing them. It is a classic test of patisserie skill.
Candied chestnuts – sweet chestnuts that have been cooked in a sugar syrup until glazed and preserved.
Marrons glaces is usually formal, culinary, gourmet in register.
Marrons glaces: in British English it is pronounced /ˌmær.ɒ̃ ˈɡlæs.eɪ/ (common anglicized approximation), and in American English it is pronounced /mɑˌroʊn glɑˈseɪ/ (common anglicized approximation). Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'MARRONS' sounds like 'MARRY' + 'ONS' – imagine marrying sweet chestnuts in a glaze ('glacés'). A luxurious French wedding dessert.
Conceptual Metaphor
LUXURY IS SWEET REFINEMENT / TRADITION IS PRESERVED IN SUGAR
Practice
Quiz
What are 'marrons glacés' primarily associated with?