French · Food & Drink
"Menu" in French: carte
la carte
Note: set menu: le menu
The bill of fare in French restaurants is usually la carte: la carte, s'il vous plaît. Le menu is often a fixed-price set menu. À la carte means ordering dishes separately.
Sitting down
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How to pronounce carte
Say it
lah kart
/kaʁt/
Carte: kart. Clear t. With article: lah kart.
"Menu" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| la carte | the menu Full list of dishes. | Full list of dishes. |
| la carte des vins | the wine list Drinks. | Drinks. |
| le menu | the set menu Fixed-price formula. | Fixed-price formula. |
| à la carte | à la carte Order individually. | Order individually. |
How to use carte in real life
- 1Sitting down
Vous avez la carte, s'il vous plaît ?
Do you have the menu, please?
La carte = menu.
- 2Choosing dishes
Je regarde la carte avant de décider.
I'm looking at the menu before deciding.
Regarder la carte.
- 3Wine
Passe-moi la carte des vins.
Pass me the wine list.
Carte des vins.
Mistakes English speakers make with carte
Incorrect: Donnez-moi le carte.
Correct: Donnez-moi la carte.
Carte is feminine: la carte.
Incorrect: Je veux le menu pour tout voir.
Correct: Je veux la carte pour tout voir.
La carte is the full menu; le menu is often a set formula.
Good to know
Asking for la carte gets the full list; le menu du jour is often a lunch deal. English menu on phones is le menu too — restaurant context prefers carte.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Ordering lunch
ChatPal
Tu as déjà la carte ?
Do you already have the menu?
You
Oui, la carte est longue aujourd'hui.
Yes — the menu is long today.
ChatPal
Je prends le plat du jour sur la carte.
I'll take the dish of the day from the menu.
You
Moi aussi, ça a l'air bon.
Me too — it looks good.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Menu" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Menu" in French
How do you say menu in French?
Usually la carte; le menu often means a set menu.
How do you ask for the menu?
La carte, s'il vous plaît.
What is à la carte?
Ordering dishes separately from the full list.
How do you pronounce carte?
kart.
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.
