French word

ail

Pronunciation

IPA/aj/

Meaning

  • masculine noungarlic

Example

Elle met de l'ail dans la sauce.

She puts garlic in the sauce.

Illustration for ail (garlic)

More examples

On sert de l'ail confit avec le plat.

Garlic confit is served with the dish.

Core concept

A papery bulb with separate cloves and a strong aroma, added to savory dishes.

Common phrases

  • ail confit

    garlic confit

  • sauce à l'ail

    garlic sauce

  • huile d'ail

    garlic-infused oil

Similar words

gousse: A small garlic clove that can be peeled, chopped, and used in cooking.
oignon: A round vegetable with a distinct flavor, eaten raw or cooked.

Definition in French

Bulbe comestible constitué de gousses séparées, à l'arôme marqué, employé comme condiment en cuisine.

Word origin

French ail continues the Latin form allium, which also gave related Romance words such as Italian aglio.

Usage tips

  • The common phrase gousse d'ail means a single clove, while ail refers to the bulb or the ingredient generally.

Related words

  • ailléseasoned with garlicadjective

Word lists with this word