French word

brûlé

Pronunciation

IPA/bʁyle/

Meaning

  • adjectiveburnt

Example

Le pain est brûlé.

The bread is burnt.

Illustration for brûlé (burnt)

More examples

Le café est brûlé.

The coffee is burned.

Core concept

The visible result of heat changing a surface from normal to scorched and carbonized.

Common phrases

  • pain brûlé

    burned bread

  • steak brûlé

    burned steak

  • café brûlé

    burned coffee

Similar words

grillé: Cooked until direct heat leaves browned marks and a savory, toasted aroma.
doré: Lightly cooked to an even golden-brown color.
carbonisé: Overcooked until black, hard, and resembling charcoal.

Definition in French

Ayant subi une combustion ou une exposition excessive à la chaleur, résultant en une partie trop cuite, noircie ou carbonisée.

Word origin

The adjective brûlé comes from brûler through its past participle, while brûler reflects medieval forms such as brusler and bruser of uncertain ultimate origin.

Usage tips

  • In cooking, brûlé can describe an intentional browned crust in crème brûlée, but it usually signals damage with bread or meat.

Opposites

  • cuitcookedadjective
  • dorégolden-brownadjective

Related words

Word lists with this word