petit dejeuner
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun A light morning meal, typically consisting of a bread roll and a beverage such as coffee or tea. This term is a direct borrowing from French, where it literally means "little lunch" and refers specifically to breakfast.
Usage
The word "petit dejeuner" is used as a countable noun to denote the first meal of the day, particularly in a French or Continental European style. It is often used in English to evoke a sense of a simple, elegant, or European-style breakfast.
Examples
- We enjoyed a lovely petit dejeuner of croissants and café au lait on the balcony.
- The hotel's complimentary petit dejeuner was served in the courtyard.
- For a true Parisian experience, have your petit dejeuner at a sidewalk café.
Advanced Usage
- The term is sometimes used in English menus, hotel descriptions, or travel writing to specify a Continental breakfast, distinguishing it from a larger "English" or "American" breakfast.
- It can be used metaphorically to describe something light, initial, or insubstantial.
- The meeting was just a petit dejeuner before the main negotiations.
Variants and Related Words
- Breakfast (noun): The more common and general English term for the first meal of the day.
- Continental breakfast (noun): An English phrase with a very similar meaning to "petit dejeuner," typically including bread, pastries, jam, and a hot beverage.
Synonyms
- Breakfast
- Morning meal
- Continental breakfast
Antonyms
- Dinner
- Supper
- Feast
Notes
"Petit dejeuner" is a loanword. In English, it is often written without the French diacritical marks (e.g., "petit dejeuner" instead of "petit déjeuner"). Its use outside of specific contexts (like menus or discussions of French culture) can sound affected or deliberately stylish.
Noun
- a breakfast that usually includes a roll and coffee or tea