Ordering Like a Local
at a French Bakery

France: the land of sumptuous pastries, perfect bread, delectable coffee, and everything a foodie's heart could desire for breakfast or a light snack. To get you started on the local lingo, we’ve compiled a list of tips, tricks, and quick French phrases. 

(Warning, we’re about to describe some incredible and delicious French pastries. If you’re hungry, you should probably grab a bite to eat before reading. Might we suggest a croissant or some slices of baguette, just to get the ball rolling?)

The Basics & Fundamentals of French Baking by Term

To get by, try starting with these basic ideas and terms. That way, you'll get an idea of where to go for what, what certain terms mean, and some key ingredients.

Boulangerie – a bakery that focuses mainly on baking bread

Patisserie - bakery specializing in pastries and headed by a pastry chef

Pain (pronounced pahn) - bread

Un pain au chocolat - A chocolate croissant (yes please!)

Choux pastry, or pâte à choux - very light pastry made with egg, typically used for eclairs and profiteroles.

Crème pâtissière - Also known as pastry cream or 'crème pat,' is a rich, creamy custard thickened with flour. It is a key ingredient of many French desserts such as soufflés, fruit tarts, and mille-feuille (more later on mille-feuille).

Crème chiboust - a crème pâtissière lightened with stiffly beaten egg whites or Italian meringue.

Pain de Campagne or Pain Miche - Translated means generally any country bread. While this bread varies in flour choice and flavor across regions, the rule of thumb is that Pain de Campagne is made with natural leavening, not with added yeast. Chewy, crusty, perfect.

Pain Ficelle – Ficelle translates in English to “string”, and it’s no wonder this bread took up that name. It’s a long thin loaf that looks like a thinner and slightly shorter baguette. Perfect for snacking.

Pain aux Noix - A nut bread made with whole wheat flour and walnuts. Because the walnut is very highly regarded in France.

Pain Bis – A brown bread made with whole wheat, whole-meal, and rye flour. Hearty and delicious.

Pain Brié - A traditional wheat flour bread from Normandy. It’s actually the addition of butter that gives this yummy bread its name and flavor, not the well-loved French cheese.

Mille-feuille (pronounced “meel-fway”) – is actually the same as what Americans call a Napoleon. Mille-feuille translates to “a thousand layers” or “a thousand leaves”.

Brioche - A fluffy, bread-like pastry that can be filled with fruit, chocolate, crème pâtissière, etc. (see below)

Tarte tropézienne - also known as "La Tarte de Saint-Tropez" is a sugar-topped brioche cake filled with crème pâtissière, or giant wonderful cream puff. Clever fact: This pastry was actually named by Brigette Bardot while she was in Saint Tropez filming!

St. Honoré, or Gâteau St. Honoré - A circle of puff pastry with a piped ring pâte à choux (choux pastry). The middle of this ring is then filled with crème chiboust and then small, sugar-dipped cream puffs line the edge and the whole is topped with whipped cream. Fit for a king and totally worth it.

Tarte Tatin - Apple tart that’s served up-side-down and topped with melty butter and sugar.

Kouign-amann (pronounced QUEEN-ah-mahn) – Also known as a Breton or Brittany cake, is made with croissant-like dough, extra butter, and cooked at low temperatures to create layers and a caramelized sugary crust.

Canelés (pronounced KAN-ley) - Sweet vanilla, rum, and custard cake with a caramelized crust. Le sigh, absolute perfection.

Gateau Basque - A sweet and sometimes almond shortcrust cake filled with either vanilla or almond crème pâtissière and dotted throughout with dark cherries or cherry jam.

Beignets (pronounced bin-yays, ignore the g) – Almost like a French donut, except imagine a light, fluffy, a fritter-like confection that melts in your mouth. Often topped with powdered sugar or caramel.

Of course, there are a lot of French bread or pastries that are the same in English because they come from the French names you already know, for example, croissant, quiche, baguette, eclair, and various fruit tarts. However, because French patisseries offer dozens or even hundreds of different baguettes, eclairs, and tarts, knowing how to say the names of various fruits and other favors to pair with each can be helpful.

Overall, it’s important to practice gracious manners, enjoy yourself, and try to learn a little of the French tradition of baking as you visit various boulangeries and patisseries across France. Never be afraid to try new things—there are a ton of bread and pastries you may never have seen before, any one of which could become your new favorite! Remember the basics so you can show your gratitude in French for all the baked goods you’re going to enjoy.