French · Food & Drink
"Beef" in French: bœuf
le bœuf
Beef in French is le bœuf, masculine. On menus you also see steak, entrecôte, or tartare. Bœuf names the meat in general.
At a restaurant
Je vais prendre le bœuf avec des frites.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce bœuf
Say it
buff
/bœf/
Bœuf: like English "buff" or French eu in "neuf". The œu is one vowel. Plural bœufs often sounds the same.
"Beef" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| le bœuf | beef The meat. | The meat. |
| du bœuf | some beef Partitive. | Partitive. |
| un steak de bœuf | a beef steak Menu phrasing. | Menu phrasing. |
| bœuf bourguignon | beef burgundy stew Classic dish. | Classic dish. |
How to use bœuf in real life
- 1At a restaurant
Je vais prendre le bœuf avec des frites.
I'll have the beef with fries.
Menu shorthand.
- 2Cooking
Il faut faire mijoter le bœuf longtemps.
You need to simmer the beef a long time.
Mijoter = simmer.
- 3Butcher's shop
Vous avez du bœuf haché ?
Do you have ground beef?
Haché = minced/ground.
Mistakes English speakers make with bœuf
Incorrect: La bœuf.
Correct: Le bœuf.
Bœuf is masculine.
Incorrect: Du beef.
Correct: Du bœuf.
Use bœuf.
Good to know
French menus list cuts more often than the word bœuf alone: onglet, entrecôte, filet. Bœuf bourguignon still signals a slow, wine-rich stew.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Choosing a main course
ChatPal
Tu prends le bœuf ou le poisson ?
Are you getting the beef or the fish?
You
Le bœuf, saignant, s'il te plaît.
The beef, rare, please.
ChatPal
Moi aussi. On partage une entrée ?
Me too. Shall we share a starter?
You
Oui, la salade.
Yes, the salad.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Beef" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Beef" in French
Gender of bœuf?
Masculine: le bœuf.
How do you pronounce bœuf?
Like "buff" with French eu.
Ground beef?
Du bœuf haché.
Famous dish?
Bœuf bourguignon.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
Keep reading
- Ordering Food in French: Essential Phrases for 2026Ordering food in french - Learn how to confidently order food in French with real-life phrases and tips for 2026 travelers
- 10 Best French Speaking Practice Apps for 2026Find the best French speaking practice app to build fluency. We review 10 top tools like ChatPal for conversation, travel prep, and building confidence in 2026.
