The most common way to say "breakfast" in French is, of course, le petit-déjeuner. But did you know there are other ways to refer to the first meal of the day? Depending on where you are in the French-speaking world or the context of the conversation, you might hear some delicious variations.

Learning these different terms is a fantastic way to enrich your vocabulary and sound more like a native speaker. Whether you're grabbing a quick bite or sitting down for a leisurely morning meal, you'll be prepared for any situation.

Let's explore 9 different ways to say "breakfast" in French!

1. The standard 'breakfast' – Le petit-déjeuner

The most common and standard way to say 'breakfast' in French is le petit-déjeuner. It's the term you'll hear and see most often, from casual conversation to hotel menus.

Literally, petit-déjeuner translates to 'little lunch'. The verb déjeuner means 'to have lunch', which comes from the root jeûner (to fast). So, déjeuner is the meal that breaks the fast, and le petit-déjeuner is the 'little' version of that meal in the morning.

This term is universally understood and used in all situations, both formal and informal. Whether you're ordering at a restaurant or talking about your morning routine with friends, le petit-déjeuner is always the right choice.

In French, you don't 'eat' breakfast, you 'take' it. The most idiomatic way to say 'to have breakfast' is by using the verb prendre (to take). For example, you would say Je prends le petit-déjeuner.

A typical French petit-déjeuner is often a light, sweet meal. It usually consists of a hot beverage like coffee or hot chocolate, accompanied by a pastry like a croissant or a slice of baguette with butter and jam, known as a tartine.

In casual speech or on café signs, you might encounter the informal abbreviation p'tit déj. For example, a menu might offer a "formule p'tit déj" (a breakfast special).

💡 * Je prends mon petit-déjeuner à 8 heures tous les matins.

• Le petit-déjeuner est inclus dans le prix de la chambre d'hôtel.
• Qu'est-ce que tu veux pour le petit-déjeuner ?
• Pour le petit-déjeuner, j'aime manger un croissant avec du café.

1. The informal 'breakfast' – Le p'tit déj

Just like in English we might say 'brekkie' instead of 'breakfast,' French has its own common, informal shortcut: le p'tit déj.

This term is a colloquial abbreviation of the full phrase le petit-déjeuner. The word petit ('small') is shortened to p'tit, and déjeuner (the meal) is shortened to déj. This type of shortening is extremely common in everyday spoken French.

You'll hear and use le p'tit déj in casual, everyday situations. It's the perfect term for asking your family what they want to eat in the morning or when making informal plans with a friend. It signals familiarity and comfort.

While perfect for a chat, you would typically see the full, formal term le petit-déjeuner written on a hotel brochure, a restaurant menu, or used in more formal communication. Knowing when to switch between the two is key to mastering French nuance.

Using le p'tit déj instead of the full le petit-déjeuner instantly makes your French sound more natural and less like something from a textbook. It's a small change that shows you're in tune with the rhythms of the spoken language.

💡 * Qu'est-ce que tu veux pour le p'tit déj ? (What do you want for breakfast?)

• On se retrouve demain pour le p'tit déj ? (Shall we meet for breakfast tomorrow?)
• J'ai juste pris un café pour mon p'tit déj ce matin. (I just had a coffee for my breakfast this morning.)
• Le p'tit déj est inclus dans le prix de la chambre. (Breakfast is included in the room price.)

The regional 'breakfast' (Belgium, Switzerland, Quebec) – Le déjeuner

While most French learners are taught that le petit-déjeuner is 'breakfast', the word le déjeuner takes on this meaning in several major French-speaking regions outside of France.

Specifically, in Belgium, Switzerland, and Quebec, le déjeuner is the common term for the first meal of the day. If someone in Brussels or Montreal asks what you had for le déjeuner, they are asking about your breakfast.

This is a crucial point of confusion for learners. In Metropolitan France, le déjeuner almost exclusively means 'lunch'. The French in France use the term le petit-déjeuner (literally 'little lunch') for 'breakfast'.

A helpful way to remember this is that the verb déjeuner literally means 'to break fast' (dé-jeuner), which is the direct origin of the English word 'breakfast'. This historical root is preserved in these regional dialects.

The key takeaway is that context is everything. Your geographical location or the speaker's origin is the best indicator. When in doubt, listening for what they call the midday meal (le dîner in Belgium and Quebec, but le déjeuner in France) can clarify the local usage.

💡 * Au Québec, on prend le déjeuner très tôt le matin. (In Quebec, we have breakfast very early in the morning.)

• Qu'est-ce que tu veux pour le déjeuner demain ? Des croissants ? (What do you want for breakfast tomorrow? Croissants?)
• En Suisse, le déjeuner est le premier repas de la journée. (In Switzerland, breakfast is the first meal of the day.)
• Pour le déjeuner, les Belges mangent souvent des tartines. (For breakfast, Belgians often eat open-faced sandwiches.)

The 'brunch' (late morning meal) – Le brunch

The 'brunch' (late morning meal) – Le brunch

Le brunch is a direct loanword from English, referring to a late morning meal that combines breakfast and lunch. It is pronounced similarly to its English counterpart.

This meal has become very fashionable in France, especially on weekends in urban areas. Many cafés and restaurants now offer a special formule brunch (brunch menu set).

In French, brunch is a masculine noun. Therefore, you always use masculine articles like le or un with it, as in le brunch or un brunch.

💡 * On va prendre le brunch ce dimanche ? (Shall we have brunch this Sunday?)

• J'adore les brunchs du week-end entre amis. (I love weekend brunches with friends.)
• Ce café propose un brunch à volonté pour 25 euros. (This café offers an all-you-can-eat brunch for 25 euros.)
• J'ai trop mangé pendant le brunch. (I ate too much during brunch.)

The descriptive 'first meal of the day' – Le premier repas de la journée

A more descriptive, though less common, way to refer to breakfast is by its literal definition: le premier repas de la journée.

This phrase translates literally to "the first meal of the day." It's not a single word but a descriptive phrase that precisely explains the concept of breakfast, breaking it down to its core function.

You'll encounter le premier repas de la journée in more formal or specific contexts, such as in nutritional articles, dietary plans, or when someone wants to emphasize the importance of that first meal.

While le petit-déjeuner is the standard, everyday term, le premier repas de la journée is used for emphasis or description. Think of it like saying "the morning meal" in English—it's correct and understood, but more formal and less common in casual chat.

For daily interactions, stick with le petit-déjeuner. Use le premier repas de la journée when you want to sound more formal, or are writing or speaking about nutrition or daily routines in a more detailed, analytical manner.

💡 * Pour beaucoup de gens, le premier repas de la journée est le plus important. (For many people, the first meal of the day is the most important.)

• Que manges-tu pour ton premier repas de la journée ? (What do you eat for your first meal of the day?)
• Il est conseillé de ne pas sauter le premier repas de la journée. (It is advised not to skip the first meal of the day.)

The general 'morning meal' – Le repas du matin

The phrase le repas du matin literally translates to 'the meal of the morning.' It's a straightforward and descriptive way to refer to the first meal of the day, focusing purely on its timing.

Unlike its common counterpart, le repas du matin is not typically used in everyday, casual conversation. You are more likely to see or hear it in formal, academic, or medical contexts. For example, a nutritionist might ask about your repas du matin when discussing your diet, or a survey might use the term to avoid ambiguity.

The standard, universally accepted word for 'breakfast' is le petit-déjeuner. If you are asking a friend what they ate or inviting them to eat, you would always use le petit-déjeuner. Think of le repas du matin as a technical or generic category, whereas le petit-déjeuner is the specific, cultural name for that meal.

For learners, the takeaway is simple: use le petit-déjeuner in 99% of your conversations to sound natural. Recognizing le repas du matin is useful for comprehension, but using it in a casual chat would sound overly formal or clinical, much like saying 'I am consuming my morning nutritional intake' in English.

💡 * Le repas du matin est essentiel pour bien commencer la journée.

• Une étude a analysé la composition du repas du matin des enfants.
• Que prenez-vous pour votre repas du matin en général ?
• Il est recommandé de ne jamais sauter le repas du matin.

The typical 'coffee and croissant' – Le café-croissant

In France, le café-croissant is more than just a breakfast order; it's a cultural symbol. It refers to the quintessential French breakfast combination of a coffee and a croissant, often enjoyed at a café terrace while people-watching or grabbed from a boulangerie on the way to work.

The term le café-croissant is a masculine compound noun used to describe this specific meal set. It’s a common, efficient way to express the idea of having this classic breakfast. For instance, you might invite someone to prendre un café-croissant (have a coffee and croissant), which encapsulates the entire experience.

While iconic, le café-croissant is the most basic version of le petit-déjeuner français (the French breakfast). This morning meal can also include other pastries like a pain au chocolat or different drinks such as a café crème or chocolat chaud. However, le café-croissant remains the most emblematic pairing.

💡 * Le matin, j'aime prendre un café-croissant en lisant le journal.

• On se retrouve demain pour un café-croissant avant de commencer la journée ?
• La formule café-croissant est la moins chère dans cette boulangerie.
• Rien de tel qu'un bon café-croissant pour bien démarrer la semaine.

The 'morning snack' – Le casse-croûte du matin

The French term for a 'morning snack' is le casse-croûte du matin. This phrase perfectly captures the idea of a quick, functional bite to eat between breakfast and lunch.

Literally, casse-croûte translates to 'break-crust' (from the verb casser - to break, and la croûte - the crust). It evokes the simple act of breaking a piece of bread for a quick meal, often a sandwich.

While casse-croûte can refer to any light snack, adding du matin specifies it's for the mid-morning break, typically around 10 or 11 AM. This distinguishes it from le goûter, which is the more common term for an afternoon snack, especially for children.

A casse-croûte du matin is usually simple and practical. It might consist of a piece of fruit, a yogurt, a handful of nuts, or a small sandwich to tide you over until le déjeuner (lunch).

💡 * Vers 10h, je prends un petit casse-croûte pour tenir jusqu'au déjeuner. (Around 10 am, I have a small snack to last until lunch.)

• Mon casse-croûte du matin est souvent une pomme et un yaourt. (My morning snack is often an apple and a yogurt.)
• Il a préparé un casse-croûte pour sa pause au travail. (He prepared a snack for his break at work.)

1. The Old-Fashioned 'Breakfast' – Le Déjeuner

Historically, the word le déjeuner was the French term for the first meal of the day. Its origin is quite literal: the verb déjeuner means 'to break the fast' (dé- for undoing + jeûner for to fast). This makes it a direct etymological counterpart to the English word 'break-fast'.

Over time, the naming of meals in France shifted. The morning meal became smaller and was dubbed le petit-déjeuner ('the little breakfast'). Consequently, le déjeuner was pushed to the midday slot, becoming the word for 'lunch', which is its primary meaning today.

In contemporary French, you should always use le petit-déjeuner for breakfast and le déjeuner for lunch. However, if you are reading classic French literature (e.g., from the 19th century), you will often see le déjeuner used to refer to the morning meal. Understanding this historical context is crucial for avoiding confusion.

💡 * Dans les romans de Victor Hugo, un personnage pourrait prendre son déjeuner à l'aube. (In Victor Hugo's novels, a character might have his breakfast at dawn.)

• Aujourd'hui, je prends mon petit-déjeuner à 8h et mon déjeuner à 13h. (Today, I have my breakfast at 8 a.m. and my lunch at 1 p.m.)
• Le verbe 'déjeuner' signifiait à l'origine 'rompre le jeûne'. (The verb 'déjeuner' originally meant 'to break the fast'.)
• On se retrouve pour le déjeuner ? (Shall we meet for lunch?)

Are there other ways to say 'breakfast' in French?

Are there other ways to say 'breakfast' in French?

This article covers the essential term, petit-déjeuner, which is the standard way to say “breakfast” in France. But the French language is full of delicious variety, and you'll find regional and historical terms for the day's first meal across the Francophone world.

You can uncover these local flavors by searching online for phrases like “petit-déjeuner au Québec” or “repas du matin en Suisse.” This is a great way to learn about both language and local customs.

Remember that context is everything! In Belgium, for example, déjeuner often means breakfast, whereas in France it means lunch. Always be aware of the regional context to avoid showing up for the wrong meal!

Pay attention when you watch French movies, read menus, or listen to native speakers talk about their day. You'll start to notice subtle differences and unique expressions related to food and daily routines.

If you want to expand your food vocabulary further, from brunch to afternoon snacks (goûter), exploring a French dictionary like Larousse or the WordReference entry for repas (meal) is a fantastic resource.

I hope this guide has helped you on your French learning journey. To finish, here is a fitting French proverb to start your day: L'appétit vient en mangeant. (Appetite comes with eating.) It’s a wonderful reminder that the more you dive into French, the more you'll want to learn!