French word

girofle

Pronunciation

IPA/ʒiʁɔfl/

Meaning

  • masculine nounclove

Example

Je mets des girofles dans le vin chaud.

I put cloves in mulled wine.

Illustration for girofle (clove)

More examples

On sent l'arôme de girofle dans les biscuits.

The aroma of cloves can be detected in the cookies.

Core concept

A tiny dried blossom shaped like a nail, carrying a strong warm fragrance into sweet and savory dishes.

Common phrases

  • clous de girofle

    cloves

  • arôme de girofle

    clove aroma

Similar words

cannelle: A spice made from dried tree bark with gentle sweetness and a warm aroma.
poivre: A spice made from dried black or white berries, ground to add heat to food.
gingembre: A spice made from an underground stem, with a sharp heat and distinctive aroma.
muscade: A spice made from a dried hard seed, with a fragrant, subtly sweet flavor.

Definition in French

Petit bourgeon floral séché au parfum chaud et piquant, employé comme épice entière ou moulue en pâtisserie et en cuisine salée.

Word origin

Girofle came into French through Old French from the Medieval Latin form caryophyllum, borrowed from Greek karyophyllon, a compound built from words meaning 'nut' and 'leaf'.

Usage tips

  • The expression clou de girofle commonly identifies one whole clove, while girofle also names the spice more generally.

Word lists with this word