à table
A friendly call to tell everyone that food is ready and it is time to eat.
Explanation at your level:
When you hear à table, it means 'come and eat now'. It is a very happy sound because it means the food is ready. You should stop what you are doing and walk to the kitchen or dining room. It is a nice way to invite people to sit down together.
This is a common phrase used when a meal is prepared. If you are a guest in a French-speaking home, you will hear this when dinner is served. It is an invitation to join the group. It is polite to respond by washing your hands and going to the table immediately.
Using à table adds a touch of international flair to your daily routine. It is a functional command that implies the transition from 'preparation time' to 'social time'. It is widely recognized in English-speaking cultures that value European dining customs, often used in a playful or affectionate manner by home cooks.
The usage of à table often signals a shift in register. While it is technically a command, it is perceived as a warm, communal gesture. It highlights the social dimension of eating. In literature or film, using this phrase can instantly establish a setting that is domestic, intimate, and perhaps slightly sophisticated.
Beyond its literal meaning, à table functions as a cultural marker. It encapsulates the French philosophy of art de vivre, where the act of gathering is as significant as the nutrition being consumed. Advanced learners recognize that while it is a simple phrase, its usage implies an acceptance of specific cultural norms regarding punctuality and the sanctity of the mealtime ritual.
At the C2 level, one understands that à table is a linguistic artifact of the civilisation de la table. It is not merely an instruction but a performative utterance that initiates a social contract. In a literary context, it can be used to denote the start of a scene, the resolution of tension, or the inevitable return to order. Its usage reflects a deep familiarity with the nuances of French social interaction and the historical evolution of the dining room as the heart of the domestic sphere.
30秒词汇
- French phrase for dinner time.
- Means 'to the table'.
- Used to call people to eat.
- Friendly and communal.
À table is a classic French phrase that has crossed borders to become a staple in many English-speaking homes. When you hear this, it is the universal signal that the cooking is done and the meal is ready to be enjoyed.
Think of it as the culinary version of a starter pistol. It creates a sense of community and anticipation, inviting everyone to put down their work, leave their rooms, and gather together to share food and conversation. It is warm, inviting, and very effective.
The phrase comes directly from French, where 'à' means 'to' and 'table' means 'table'. Historically, it evolved as a shorthand for 'Venez à la table' (Come to the table). In the 18th and 19th centuries, as French culture and dining etiquette became the gold standard for European aristocracy, this phrase spread rapidly.
It is fascinating how such a simple prepositional phrase became a fixed idiomatic command. It reflects the French cultural emphasis on the importance of the dining experience as a social ritual rather than just a biological necessity.
You use à table in casual, domestic settings. It is perfect for families or groups of friends. You wouldn't typically use it in a formal business meeting or a high-end restaurant where a waiter would likely use more polite phrasing like 'Your table is ready'.
Commonly, it is followed by a quick 'tout est prêt' (everything is ready) or just said with a smile. It is informal but carries a sense of authority—the cook is in charge!
While 'à table' is an expression itself, it connects to others:
- Mettre la table: To set the table.
- Passer à table: To sit down to eat.
- Bavarder à table: To chat while eating.
- Le couvert est mis: The table is set (often said after 'à table').
- Bon appétit: Often follows the invitation to the table.
Grammatically, it is a prepositional phrase acting as an interjection. It does not change form. Pronunciation in English often approximates 'ah-TAH-bluh'.
The stress is typically on the second syllable of 'table'. It rhymes loosely with 'fable' or 'stable' if spoken with a heavy Anglicized accent, though the French pronunciation is distinctively more clipped.
Fun Fact
It is one of the most recognizable French phrases worldwide.
Pronunciation Guide
Short 'a' sound, clear 't'.
More nasal 'a', soft 'l'.
Common Errors
- Hard 't' at end
- Pronouncing 'e' at end
- Wrong stress
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Very easy
Easy
Easy
Very easy
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
高级
Grammar to Know
Prepositional phrases
à table
Imperative mood
Come!
Interjections
Wow!
Examples by Level
À table! Dinner is ready.
Come to the table
Interjection
Come on, à table!
Time to eat
Casual
The food is hot, à table!
Ready to eat
Imperative
À table, everyone!
Calling a group
Direct address
It is time, à table.
Ready
Phrase
À table, please.
Polite call
Polite
Quick, à table!
Hurry
Urgency
Let's go, à table.
Moving
Suggestion
À table, the soup is getting cold.
We heard 'à table' and ran to the kitchen.
She shouted 'à table' from the balcony.
Whenever we hear 'à table', we stop playing.
The host said 'à table' with a big smile.
It is 7 PM, so it is à table time.
Don't be late for 'à table'.
He called 'à table' to get our attention.
The ritual of 'à table' is sacred in this house.
She used 'à table' to break the awkward silence.
Hearing 'à table' always makes me feel at home.
Even with guests, she prefers the simple 'à table'.
The kids ignored the first 'à table'.
We gathered 'à table' to discuss our plans.
There is something charming about saying 'à table'.
He signaled 'à table' by ringing a small bell.
The phrase 'à table' acts as a catalyst for social bonding.
In many households, 'à table' is the only rule.
She insisted on a formal 'à table' despite the chaos.
The transition to 'à table' was seamless.
He uttered 'à table' with a sense of finality.
The atmosphere changed once we were 'à table'.
You can tell a lot about a family by how they respond to 'à table'.
The tradition of 'à table' is fading in some modern homes.
The invocation of 'à table' serves to anchor the disparate members of the household.
She employed 'à table' as a gentle reminder of our shared responsibilities.
The cultural weight of 'à table' transcends its simple linguistic components.
He used 'à table' to punctuate the end of the workday.
The evocative power of 'à table' lies in its promise of sustenance and discourse.
We found comfort in the predictable rhythm of 'à table'.
The command 'à table' is a vestige of a more structured era.
She whispered 'à table' to avoid disturbing the neighbors.
The utterance 'à table' functions as a performative bridge between the private and public spheres of domestic life.
Historically, the cry of 'à table' was the definitive signal that the day's labor had ceased.
Her use of 'à table' was an act of cultural preservation in an increasingly globalized environment.
The phrase 'à table' encapsulates the French obsession with the temporal and spatial organization of the meal.
One might argue that 'à table' is the most essential phrase in the francophone culinary lexicon.
The social stratification of the 19th century was often reflected in the way one was summoned 'à table'.
To ignore the call of 'à table' is to commit a minor but significant social transgression.
The symphony of 'à table' is a recurring motif in the literature of the Belle Époque.
常见搭配
Idioms & Expressions
"Passer à table"
To confess or sit down to eat
He finally decided to passer à table.
neutral"Mettre la table"
To set the table
Can you help me mettre la table?
neutral"À table avec"
Dining with someone
I am à table avec my family.
neutral"Le couvert est mis"
The table is ready
The couvert est mis, let's eat.
formal"Bon appétit"
Enjoy your meal
À table, bon appétit!
neutral"À la table de"
At the table of
I sat à la table de the king.
literaryEasily Confused
Contains the word
Table is the object, à table is the call.
The table is wood. À table!
Both French
À la carte is for menus.
I ordered à la carte.
Similar roots
Tableau is a painting/scene.
The tableau was beautiful.
English verb
Tabling means delaying.
We are tabling the motion.
Sentence Patterns
Interjection + !
À table!
Subject + says + à table
He says à table.
Time + à table
It is time for à table.
Everyone + to + à table
Everyone come to à table.
The call of + à table
The call of à table is strong.
词族
Nouns
Verbs
相关
How to Use It
7
Formality Scale
常见错误
It is an interjection, not a noun.
The 'le' is silent/soft.
It is exclusively for food.
It loses meaning as a command.
Only capitalize at the start.
Tips
Memory Palace
Imagine a table in your hallway.
Native use
Used by parents to kids.
French culture
Meals are social.
Grammar rule
It is a set phrase.
Say it right
Keep it short.
Don't mistake
Not a noun.
Did you know?
It is French.
Study smart
Use it at dinner.
Sound
Soft 'l'.
Insight
Warm invitation.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
A-Table: A (All) Table (Together)
Visual Association
A big dinner bell ringing.
Word Web
挑战
Use it at home tonight!
词源
French
Original meaning: To the table
文化背景
None, universally positive.
Used by foodies or people with French influence.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
At home
- À table!
- Dinner is ready
- Come eat
With friends
- À table, guys!
- Food's here
- Let's eat
Learning French
- À table
- Manger
- Bon appétit
Cooking
- À table!
- It's done
- Ready
Conversation Starters
"Do you use French phrases at home?"
"What is your favorite mealtime ritual?"
"Do you like eating with family?"
"Is your house loud at dinner?"
"Have you ever been to France?"
Journal Prompts
Describe a meal with your family.
Why is eating together important?
Write about a time you were hungry.
Translate your favorite food phrase.
常见问题
8 个问题Yes, many people do!
No, it is very friendly.
No, anyone can use it.
When food is ready.
It is an interjection.
Yes, it is great for kids.
No.
Don't use it there.
自我测试
The food is ready, ___!
It is the call for food.
What does à table mean?
It is an invitation to eat.
You use à table to start a meeting.
It is for meals only.
Word
意思
Direct translation of meaning.
Correct phrasing.
得分： /5
Summary
À table is the perfect way to invite your loved ones to share a meal together.
- French phrase for dinner time.
- Means 'to the table'.
- Used to call people to eat.
- Friendly and communal.
Memory Palace
Imagine a table in your hallway.
Native use
Used by parents to kids.
French culture
Meals are social.
Grammar rule
It is a set phrase.
Related Content
更多cooking词汇
à emporter
A1To take away, for takeout (food).
à la broche
B1On the spit, roasted on a rotating rod.
à l'étouffée
B1Stewed, braised, cooked slowly in a covered pot.
aigre
A2Having an acidic, sour taste.
apéritif
A1An aperitif, an alcoholic drink taken before a meal.
appétissant
B1Appealing to the appetite; tempting.
appétit
A1A natural desire to satisfy a bodily need, especially for food.
apprêter
A2To make food ready for cooking or eating.
aromatisé
B1Having an added flavor; flavored.
arôme
B1An aroma, a distinctive, typically pleasant smell.
