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Glite Dictionary
creme caramel

creme caramel

1 3.6
A sweet baked custard dessert topped with soft caramel
  • noun
  • /krɛm kɑːrˈmɛl/
translation icon : flan
  • The restaurant’s signature creme caramel was smooth and rich in flavor.

Examples

  • I love creme caramel!

  • He brought a homemade creme caramel to the dinner party and everyone loved it.

  • For dessert, she made a delicious creme caramel topped with berries.

  • Have you ever tried creme caramel?

  • For dessert, we decided to share a delicious creme caramel topped with fresh strawberries.

  • After dinner, I enjoyed a smooth creme caramel that melted in my mouth.

  • The restaurant is famous for its rich creme caramel that has a perfect balance of sweetness.

Surface Forms

creme caramel singular
creme caramels plural

Morphology

crème + caramel

The phrase literally combines 'crème' (a rich custard/cream) and 'caramel' (sweet browned sugar), so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer it denotes a custard dessert with a caramel topping. This is a straightforward, compositional culinary term found across languages, making its meaning immediately derivable from its parts.

Etymology

Creme caramel comes from the French words crème and caramel, which mean 'cream' and 'caramel'. The dessert is a smooth baked custard with a soft caramel layer that is usually turned out of its mold so the caramel sits on top, so the name matches the dish today.