quenelle
/kəˈnɛl/ IELTSAcademic
noun
A small oval dumpling made from fish, meat, or flour mixture, often poached or baked. In French cooking, it is usually soft and delicate.
- We had salmon quenelles for dinner.
- The chef served quenelles with a light sauce.
Adinary Nuance
A quenelle is more specific than dumpling. It usually suggests French cooking, a smooth texture, and a neat oval shape. Use dumpling for the broader everyday word, and quenelle when you want the exact French dish.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- bánh bột
- Spanish
- quenelle
- Chinese
- 鱼丸
- Japanese
- クネル
- Korean
- 크넬
Etymology
Quenelle came into English from French in the 1800s. The French word is older and refers to a small soft dumpling, often shaped with two spoons.
Common phrases
fish quenellesalmon quenellequenelle mixture
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is quenelle the same as dumpling?
- It is a type of dumpling, but usually French and more delicate.
- Is quenelle common in everyday English?
- No, it is mostly used in cooking and restaurant writing.
- How do I pronounce quenelle?
- Say it like /kəˈnɛl/, with stress on the second syllable.