“My French host served the entrée first — clearly the main dish.”
Usage Entry 1118 / 1350 60-second read
Entrée vs. Appetizer
In US, the main course; in French/UK, the starter.
The comparisoni
“My French host served the entrée first — which in French means the starter, not the main course. In the US, the entrée is the main.”
The ruleii
¶
US: entrée = main. FR/UK: entrée = starter.
The word "entrée" (literally "entrance") denotes the starter in French and European menus. American English reassigned it to the main course, creating a lasting cross-cultural confusion.
Memory aidiii
Remember it like this
US menus: entrée is the main.