French word

lait

Pronunciation

IPA/lɛ/

Meaning

  • masculine nounmilk

Example

Je bois du lait tous les matins.

I drink milk every morning.

Illustration for lait (milk)

More examples

Il est allergique au lait.

He is allergic to milk.

Core concept

A carton pours a smooth white liquid into a breakfast glass and a saucepan.

Common phrases

  • boire du lait

    drink milk

  • acheter du lait

    buy milk

  • sans lait

    without milk

Similar words

boisson: A liquid meant for drinking, such as coffee, tea, or juice.
yaourt: A food made by fermenting and thickening milk, usually eaten with a spoon.
fromage: A food made by curdling milk, then sliced or used in cooking.
crème: A pale, fatty liquid separated from milk, used in cooking and desserts.

Definition in French

Liquide blanc sécrété par les mammifères, surtout la vache, consommé comme boisson et utilisé en cuisine.

Word origin

French lait developed from Latin lac and its stem lact-, passing through Old French before reaching its modern form.

Usage tips

  • French uses the partitive du lait for an unspecified amount, while a measured quantity takes de, as in un verre de lait.

Related words

  • laitierdairyadjective
  • laiteriedairy shopnoun

Word lists with this word