tous-les-mois: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very lowTechnical / Culinary
Quick answer
What does “tous-les-mois” mean?
A type of starch or flour made from the root of the Canna lily (Canna edulis), also known as Queensland arrowroot.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A type of starch or flour made from the root of the Canna lily (Canna edulis), also known as Queensland arrowroot.
A culinary ingredient used as a thickener, similar to arrowroot or cornstarch, and the plant from which it is derived.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in usage; the term is equally rare in both varieties.
Connotations
Carries connotations of historical recipes, exotic ingredients, or botanical specificity.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both. More likely to be encountered in historical texts, specialized botanical works, or niche culinary writing than in everyday speech.
Grammar
How to Use “tous-les-mois” in a Sentence
The [noun] is thickened with tous-les-mois.[Verb] the sauce with a teaspoon of tous-les-mois.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “tous-les-mois” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The Victorian recipe called for a tous-les-mois pudding.
- The tous-les-mois plant has attractive foliage.
American English
- She used a tous-les-mois thickener for the gluten-free pie.
- We studied the tous-les-mois cultivation methods.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used. Might appear in the context of importing niche food products or botanical supplies.
Academic
Used in botanical texts, papers on historical agriculture, or food history.
Everyday
Extremely unlikely to be used or understood.
Technical
Primary context: botany (Canna edulis), culinary science (as a specific starch), historical recipes.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “tous-les-mois”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “tous-les-mois”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “tous-les-mois”
- Mispronouncing it as an English phrase (e.g., /taʊs lɛz mɔɪz/).
- Using it as a general term for 'monthly'.
- Confusing it with common thickeners like cornflour or tapioca.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is very rare and primarily of historical or niche botanical interest. Common thickeners like cornstarch, arrowroot, or tapioca are used instead.
It is typically pronounced with an approximation of the French pronunciation: /ˌtuː leɪ ˈmwɑː/. Pronouncing it as English words would be incorrect.
No. In English, it is only a fixed name for the plant/starch. To mean 'every month', you must use the English phrase.
An equal amount of arrowroot starch or cornstarch would be the closest modern substitute, though the texture might vary slightly.
A type of starch or flour made from the root of the Canna lily (Canna edulis), also known as Queensland arrowroot.
Tous-les-mois is usually technical / culinary in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'TOUS' the ingredients are 'LE'ss common, but this one is used 'MOIS' (monthly) in some historical kitchens.
Conceptual Metaphor
N/A for this highly specific term.
Practice
Quiz
What is 'tous-les-mois' primarily?