French word

traiteur

Pronunciation

IPA/tʁɛtœʁ/

Meaning

  • masculine nouncaterer

Example

Nous avons engagé un traiteur pour le buffet du mariage.

We hired a caterer for the wedding buffet.

Illustration for traiteur (caterer)

More examples

Le traiteur a préparé des plats végétariens pour les invités.

The caterer prepared vegetarian dishes for the guests.

Core concept

A food specialist who prepares dishes for takeaway or organizes a complete meal for an event.

Common phrases

  • faire appel à un traiteur

    hire a caterer

  • service traiteur

    catering service

  • plateaux traiteur

    catering platters

Similar words

restaurateur: A restaurant operator who cooks meals and serves them in a restaurant.
boulanger: A baker or bakery selling freshly baked bread.
pâtissier: A pastry maker or shop selling cakes and baked sweets.
charcutier: A charcuterie maker or shop selling hams, sausages, and other prepared meats.

Definition in French

Entreprise ou commerce qui vend des plats préparés à emporter et qui, souvent, prend en charge la restauration d'événements.

Word origin

Traiteur derives from French traiter, meaning to handle or deal with, with the occupational suffix -eur, and came to denote a specialist handling prepared food.

Usage tips

  • Traiteur is masculine in standard usage, so the usual phrase is un traiteur, even when the business serves a mixed-gender team.

Other meanings

  • delinoun

Related words

Word lists with this word