What Does Au Lait Mean?
Au lait is a term used to describe coffee with milk. The literal translation from French is “with milk.” Au lait coffees are typically made with equal parts coffee and steamed milk, though the exact ratio can vary depending on the drinker’s preference.
Au lait means “with milk” in French. This phrase is often used to describe coffee or tea that is served with milk. In some cases, it can also be used to describe food that is served with milk, such as cereal or oatmeal.

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What is the Meaning of Au Lait in English?
In France, “au lait” simply means “with milk.” However, in the United States, Canada, and other English-speaking countries, “au lait” refers specifically to coffee with milk. If you order an “au lait” at a cafe in North America, you will receive a cup of coffee with steamed milk added.
The phrase “au lait” comes from the French word for milk, which is “lait.” When combined with the preposition “au,” which means “with,” it creates the phrase “with milk.”
Interestingly enough, the phrase “café au lait” actually means something different in France than it does in North America.
In France, a café au lait is a coffee with hot milk added. However, in North America, a café au lait is made with equal parts coffee and steamed milk – no additional hot milk is added.
So if you’re ever ordering coffee in a French café and want to make sure you’re getting what you expect, be sure to specify whether you want a café au lait or just an au lait!
What Language is Au Lait?
Au lait is a French language term meaning “with milk”. It is used as a descriptor for coffee drinks, typically espresso drinks, that are made with milk. The term can also be applied to other beverages, such as tea and hot chocolate.
What Does Au Lait Mean in Coffee?
Au lait is a term used to describe coffee with milk. The ratio of coffee to milk can vary, but typically, au lait refers to coffee with a higher milk to coffee ratio. For example, a latte has more espresso and less steamed milk than an au lait.
Au lait is French for “with milk.” In France, cafes serve au lait as breakfast fare – strong coffee with hot milk on the side. But you don’t need to be in France (or even speak French) to enjoy this classic drink.
Au lait is simply coffee with milk, so it’s easy to make at home. There are two ways to make au lait: with brewed coffee or espresso as the base. If you’re using brewed coffee, start by heating up some milk on the stovetop or in the microwave.
Then combine the hot milk and coffee in a mug in whatever ratio you like. If you’re using espresso as your base, pull a shot or two and then add steamed milk until you reach your desired consistency. Again, the ratio of espresso to milk is up to you.
Whether you’re using brewed coffee or espresso as your base, au lait is best served piping hot. So take a sip and enjoy!
How Do You Pronounce Au Lait?
When it comes to the pronunciation of “au lait,” there are two schools of thought. The first camp believes that the correct way to say it is with a long “o” sound, like in the word “boat.” The second camp believes that the correct way to say it is with a short “o” sound, like in the word “bob.”
While both pronunciations are technically correct, the most common pronunciation is with a long “o” sound.
How to Pronounce Au lait?
Lait Meaning French
When it comes to food, the French take great pride in their language. So it’s no surprise that they have multiple words for what English-speakers call “milk”. In addition to lait, there is also le lait cru, or raw milk; le lait demi-écrémé, or semi-skimmed milk; and le lait écrémé, or skimmed milk.
But what about Lait meaning French? This word actually has two different meanings in French. It can either refer to milk as a beverage, or to cream (the fatty part of milk).
When used to refer to milk as a drink, Lait meaning French is most often used in reference to cow’s milk. However, it can also be used for other types of animal milks, such as goat’s milk. In this case, the word would be pronounced “lay” (with a long A sound).
When used to refer to cream, Lait meaning French typically refers to heavy cream or whipping cream. This thick and rich type of cream is perfect for making desserts like chocolate mousse or crème brûlée. The word is pronounced “leh” (with a long E sound).
So there you have it: two meanings for the word Lait in French! Whether you’re looking for a refreshing glass of cold milk or some decadent whipped cream, this versatile word has you covered.
Conclusion
In French, “au lait” means “with milk.” It’s a simple enough phrase, but there are a few things to keep in mind when using it. First, remember that “lait” is masculine, so the article “le” must agree with it.
Second, because “au lait” is a preposition + noun phrase, the noun must be in the accusative case (direct object). Finally, you’ll need to use the correct conjugation of the verb after “au lait,” depending on who is doing the drinking. Let’s break it down:
To say “I drink coffee with milk,” you would say: Je bois mon café au lait. Note that here, the direct object (“café”) comes before “au lait.”
To say “You drink tea with milk,” you would say: Tu bois ton thé au lait.
Again, the direct object (“thé”) comes before “au lait.”
If you want to say something like “He likes to drink his hot chocolate with milk,” you would say: Il aime boire son chocolat chaud au lait.