A La Carte (as a noun) refers to dining or ordering items individually from a menu, rather than as part of a set meal. It conveys the option to choose distinct dishes with separate prices. The term is borrowed from French and is commonly used in hospitality to describe customizable meals or offerings.
"We decided to order a la carte for the tasting menu instead of the fixed course set."
"The restaurant lists many items a la carte, giving guests more variety and control over portions."
"In the conference banquet, wine and desserts were served a la carte to accommodate different preferences."
"Some diners prefer an a la carte option because it lets them skip dishes they don’t want."
A La Carte is a French phrase meaning 'by the card/menu' or 'according to the card.' The term originates from the French restaurant practice of listing items on a menu with individual prices (carte). In medieval and early modern Europe, menus often grouped dishes by course with fixed prices; as dining culture evolved in the 18th and 19th centuries, some establishments began offering items priced separately to provide choice and flexibility. The French words a la (in the style of) and carte (card/menu) combined into a phrase adopted into English to describe this dining model. In English usage, the phrase is typically treated as two words, with stress on the first content syllable of the main noun phrase, though some speakers may reduce the phrase in rapid speech. First known use in English citations traces to culinary writing in the 19th century, reflecting global influence of haute cuisine and formal dining practices.
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Words that rhyme with "A La Carte"
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Pronunciation: /ə lə kɑːrt/ in US, /ə lə kɑːt/ in UK and AU. Stress typically on the first content word, with slight emphasis on ‘carte’ when specifying the item. Mouth positions: begin with a relaxed schwa on 'a' and 'la', then a clear open back vowel in 'carte' (/ɑː/ in US, /ɑː/ in UK/AU). Note the final t can be unreleased in rapid speech. Listen to native examples and mimic the spacing: a la carte, a-la-charte. Audio resources: Pronounce, Forvo, YouGlish demonstrations.
Common errors: 1) Pronouncing 'la' as a full 'la' rather than a schwa-like /lə/ in connected speech; 2) Not pronouncing the final 't' clearly in careful speech (or adding an extra 't' sound); 3) Treating 'carte' as 'cart' (/kɑːrt/) with hard American /r/ or misplacing vowel length. Corrections: use a relaxed /lə/ for 'la' and a clear /kɑːrt/ or /kɑːt/ with final t unreleased in casual speech, but audible in careful speech. Practice with minimal pairs and phrase-level practice to keep the rhythm intact.
In US English, you’ll hear a rhotic /ɹ/ in 'carte' as /kɑːrt/ with a slightly rounded /ɔː/ in some regions. UK English often features non-rhotic /kɑːt/ with a more open /ɑː/ vowel and reduced r. Australian English tends to be rhotic but with a broader /ɑː/ and occasional vowel flattening; some speakers may reduce the 'la' to /lə/ more aggressively. Overall rhythm remains similar, but vowel quality and rhoticity shift influence how crisp the final consonant sounds.
Difficulties stem from the French origin and mixed-language pronunciation: the two functional vowels in 'a la' (/ə lə/) require quick, relaxed schwa vowels; 'carte' uses an open back vowel and a subtle final t. Many speakers anglicize it as one word or mispronounce 'carte' as /kɑːr/ or /kɑːrt/. The challenge lies in maintaining separate syllables, correct vowel height, and the subtle nasalization of /ə/ in rapid speech. Practice slow, then speed up while keeping each segment distinct.
A notable feature is the di-phonemic division between the French-rooted 'carte' and the English-adopted 'a la'. The phrase often carries a light, almost musical French rhythm in careful speech, with two relaxed schwas before the more defined /kɑːrt/ or /kɑːt/. This separation helps avoid blending into a single 'alacarte' and clarifies the two-word, two-syllable unit even in fast dining context.
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