Published August 7, 2026 — By French teacher David Issokson with native audio by Marie Assel Cambier
Entrée — Meaning and pronunciation
Entrée (f.) is a French noun meaning “starter” or “appetizer” when referring to a meal. It is a false cognate (faux ami) because in American English, an entrée usually means “main course,” which is called le plat principal in French. In French, une entrée is the first course of a meal, while un hors-d’œuvre usually refers to a smaller appetizer.
Pronunciation: /ɑ̃.tʁe/, approximately “ahn-tray.”
Example Sentences
J’ai commandé une entrée à partager avant le plat principal.
I ordered a starter to share before the main course.
Comme entrée, je vais prendre la soupe à l’oignon.
As a starter, I’m going to have the French onion soup.
L’entrée du jour est une salade de chèvre chaud.
Today’s starter is a warm goat cheese salad.
Le serveur m’a recommandé une entrée au saumon fumé.
The waiter recommended a smoked salmon starter.
👉 Related lesson: Hors-d’œuvre — What does it mean in French?
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Related words and expressions
- une entrée du jour — starter of the day
- un hors-d’œuvre — appetizer, starter
- un apéritif — pre-dinner drink; aperitif
- un amuse-bouche — bite-sized appetizer
- un plat principal — main course
- un menu — set menu
- la carte — menu, map
📚 Related lessons
👉 Restaurant phrases and vocabulary »
👉 Food vocabulary »
👉 False cognates (faux amis) »
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