filet

§ What 'filet' means

The French word filet (pronounced: fee-leh) refers to a boneless cut of meat or fish. Think of it like a fillet in English. It's a common term you'll encounter in restaurants, butcher shops, and grocery stores.

§ 'Filet' vs. 'morceau' and 'tranche'

While filet specifically means a boneless cut, you might wonder about other words for 'piece' or 'slice' of food. Let's look at a couple of common ones:

DEFINITION

Morceau (m): A piece or chunk of something.

You can use morceau for a piece of anything, not just meat or fish. For example, a piece of cheese or a piece of cake.

DEFINITION

Tranche (f): A slice of something.

Tranche is used for thin, flat cuts, like a slice of bread or a slice of ham.

§ When to use 'filet'

You should use filet when you are specifically talking about a boneless cut of meat or fish. Here are some examples:

• Filet de poulet: Chicken fillet (boneless chicken breast)
• Filet de bœuf: Beef fillet (tenderloin)
• Filet de poisson: Fish fillet

§ Other meanings of 'filet'

Just to make things a little more interesting, filet has a few other common meanings in French. Context is key! It can also mean:

• A net: Like a fishing net (un filet de pêche) or a tennis net (un filet de tennis).
• A thread: As in a screw thread (un filet de vis).
• A trickle/stream: Like a small stream of water (un filet d'eau).

However, in the context of food, it almost always refers to a boneless cut. Don't let these other meanings confuse you when you're ordering at a restaurant!

§ Key takeaway

When you're looking for a boneless cut of meat or fish, the word you want is filet. For a general 'piece,' use morceau, and for a 'slice,' use tranche. Practicing these words will help you confidently order your food in French!