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How to Say ‘I'll have a noisette instead’ in French

Je vais plutôt prendre un noisette

zhuh veh ploo-toh prahn-dr uhn nwah-ZET

[zhuh veh ploo-toh prahn-dr uhn nwah-ZET]

💬 Usage Tip: Noisette means hazelnut and is feminine, but the drink is un noisette, short for un café noisette. The name comes from its hazelnut colour, not the flavour.

Phrase Breakdown

Je vais plutôt prendre

zhuh veh ploo-toh prahn-dr

I'll have instead

'Plutôt' means 'rather' or 'instead'. 'Je vais prendre' is the natural way to order.

Example

Je vais plutôt prendre un thé.

I'll have a tea instead.

Words in this phrase

[zhuh]

Pronoun used by the speaker to identify themselves.

Example

Je suis content.

I am happy.

vais

[veh]

am going to

Present tense of 'go,' used to express future intention.

Example

Je vais préparer le dîner.

I am going to prepare dinner.

plutôt

[ploo-toh]

rather

Used to soften or refine a preference, like saying rather or instead.

Example

Plutôt à l'ombre, s'il vous plaît.

Rather in the shade, please.

prendre

[prahn-dr]

to have / to take

Common verb for taking or ordering food in a restaurant.

Example

Si j'ai faim, je demande : Je peux prendre l'entrée ?

If I’m hungry, I ask: Can I have the starter?

un noisette

uhn nwah-ZET

a noisette (espresso with a dash of milk)

It's 'un' because it's short for 'un café noisette', named for its hazelnut colour. Say 'un nwa-zet'.

Example

Un noisette, s'il vous plaît.

A noisette, please.

Words in this phrase

[uhn]

a / an

An indefinite article used before a masculine singular noun.

Example

Un casque est important pour le roller.

A helmet is important for inline skating.

noisette

[nwah-ZET]

espresso with a dash of milk

Literally 'hazelnut'; a café noisette is an espresso with a drop of milk, named for its colour.

Example

Un noisette, s'il vous plaît.

An espresso with a dash of milk, please.

Guides for French learners

Ordering in French: Cafés, Bakeries and Restaurants (with Menu Vocabulary)How to order in French at a café, a bakery and a restaurant: the phrases, the questions staff ask, and the menu and food vocabulary to understand the answers.Hello in French: Greetings, Good Evening and How to Answer "How Are You?"How to say hello in French, when to switch to good evening, how to ask how are you and what to answer, with tu vs vous and native audio.

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