Level A2 (Upper Beginner)
Lesson written by French teacher David Issokson for students who want to learn French online, with native audio by Marie Assel Cambier, a voice artist from France.
The French Word of the Day is soupe à l’oignon, meaning French onion soup. Most of us know and love this dish — but how do you pronounce the tricky oignon (onion)? And what are the differences between French onion soup in France and its American counterpart? Keep reading to find out, with Marie’s clear audio examples!
✅ Meaning
✅ Pronunciation
✅ Example sentences
✅ Related Words & Expressions
✅ Related lessons
Subscribe to the French Word of the Day
📘 Soupe à l’oignon meaning
Soupe à l’oignon means French onion soup, with à l’oignon meaning “with” or “flavored by” onion. This classic French soup is made by slowly cooking onions, adding broth and a bit of wine, then finishing it with toasted bread and a light gratiné of cheese. The flavor comes mainly from the long cooking time, which makes the onions soft and slightly sweet.
🍲 Cultural note
In France, this soup doesn’t have the “fancy restaurant dish” image it often has in the U.S. It’s something people enjoy once in a while, not as an everyday meal. Traditionally, it was served very early in the morning, which is why it’s still known as a late-night or “hangover” cure. French versions are usually lighter, with less cheese, and focus more on the onions and wine than on heavy toppings.
🎧 Soupe à l’oignon pronunciation
The pronunciation of soupe à l’oignon is /sup‿a lɔ.ɲɔ̃/, which sounds like soop-ah loh-nyoh. Many students have a very hard time with the pronunciation of oignon. Tip: think “ohn-nyon” or “oh-nyon.”
📝 Soupe à l’oignon examples & usages
La soupe à l’oignon est une soupe française avec des oignons et du fromage fondu.
French onion soup is a French soup with onions and melted cheese.
Je voudrais une soupe à l’oignon, s’il vous plaît.
I would like a French onion soup, please.
Nous ajoutons un peu de vin blanc dans la soupe à l’oignon.
We add a little white wine to the French onion soup.
Les Américains préfèrent la soupe à l’oignon avec beaucoup de fromage.
Americans prefer French onion soup with a lot of cheese.
Ever heard of la raclette? It’s a cozy winter dish from the Alps region with melted cheese over potatoes, charcuterie and pickles.
👉 Raclette — pronunciation, meaning, examples »
❓ Want to feel more confident in French?
🎯 À Moi Paris — This is my top recommendation for online French courses, and it pairs wonderfully with my daily lessons. Camille Chevalier teaches with engaging audio stories that she records at three speeds. Her specialty is helping students with pronunciation and bridging the gap between textbook French and real spoken French as you hear it on the streets of Paris.
👉 Explore À Moi Paris »
👉 Read my review »
🎧 French Verb Drills — Having trouble with French verb conjugations? Camille’s audio drills break everything down step by step so you can finally lock in the patterns and speak with confidence.
If you purchase the courses, I may earn a small commission — at no extra cost to you.
🔗 Related words and expressions
- l’oignon — onion
- le bouillon — broth, stock
- le fromage râpé — grated cheese
- le gruyère — Gruyère cheese
- les croûtons — croutons
- la soupe du jour — soup of the day
- faire gratiner — to broil / brown with cheese
- faire mijoter — to simmer
📚 Related lessons on FrenchLearner!
🚀 Continue learning French online on FrenchLearner!
👉 French Word of the Day »
👉 French Vocabulary lists »
👉 French for beginners guide »
👉 French song lyrics hub »
👉 French conjugations hub »
