Published April 12, 2026 — By French teacher David Issokson • Native Audio by Marie Assel Cambier
Most of us have heard the French word soufflé — that light, airy dessert you see on menus. But what does it actually mean in French, and how is it used in real-life conversation? In this lesson, you’ll learn the meaning, pronunciation, and hear Marie’s native audio to master soufflé with confidence.
📘 Soufflé meaning
A soufflé (m.) is a light, airy French dish made with beaten egg whites that rise in the oven, creating its fluffy texture. It can be either sweet (like chocolate) or savory (like cheese). The word soufflé comes from the verb souffler, meaning “to blow” or “to puff,” referring to how the dish expands as it bakes. Soufflés are known for their delicate structure and are best served immediately before they collapse.
🎧 Soufflé pronunciation
The pronunciation of soufflé is /su.fle/ (IPA), which sounds roughly like “soo-flay”.
📝 Soufflé examples
Elle prépare un soufflé avec des œufs frais.
She is preparing a soufflé with fresh eggs.
Je vais prendre un soufflé au chocolat, s’il vous plaît.
I’ll have a chocolate soufflé, please.
J’adore le soufflé au chocolat en dessert.
I love chocolate soufflé for dessert.
Le soufflé est croustillant à l’extérieur et moelleux.
The soufflé is crispy on the outside and soft inside.
🍰 More French treats: Continue your culinary journey with my guide to French Desserts (including lessons on mousse au chocolat and crème brûlée).
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🔗 More French desserts
- la mousse au chocolat — chocolate mousse
- la crème brûlée — crème brûlée
- le millefeuille — millefeuille pastry
- le macaron — macaron
- le gâteau au chocolat — chocolate cake
- le fondant au chocolat — molten chocolate cake
- les profiteroles — cream puffs with chocolate sauce
- les éclairs — éclairs
📚 Related lessons
👉 French loanwords »
👉 French dessert names »
👉 French food vocabulary »
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