The French word "tendre" is spelled with a silent "-e" at the end, which gives it a soft, delicate sound. The IPA phonetic transcription for "tendre" is /tɑ̃dʁ/. The first syllable, "ten," is pronounced with an open nasal "a" sound. The second syllable, "dre," is pronounced with a soft, rolling "r" sound. This word is often used to describe something or someone as tender or soft. It is commonly used in French cuisine to describe a meat cooked until it is tender and juicy.
Tendre is a French adjective that has various meanings depending on the context in which it is used. One of its primary definitions is "tender" or "soft." This refers to something that is gentle, delicate, or easily manipulated, often with an element of fragility. For example, one might describe a tender touch or a tender voice as being soft and soothing.
Another meaning of tendre is "affectionate" or "loving." In this sense, it describes emotions or behavior that displays fondness, warmth, or care towards another person. Someone who is tendre might express their love or compassion towards someone else through kind words, acts of kindness, or gestures of affection.
Tendre can also refer to something that is "young" or "fresh." This can be used to describe different entities such as fruits, vegetables, or even wine, to indicate their state of ripeness or newness.
In the context of French cuisine, tendre can be used to describe meat that is tender or easily chewable. It is often associated with cuts of meat that are relatively tender due to their location on the animal and the method of cooking.
Overall, tendre encompasses a range of meanings including tender, soft, affectionate, loving, young, fresh, and easily chewable, depending on the particular usage and context.
The word "tendre" has its origins in the Latin word "tenuis" meaning "thin" or "delicate". This Latin term was later borrowed into Old French as "tendre", with the same meaning. Over time, the word evolved in both pronunciation and meaning. In Middle French, it started to also signify "tender" or "soft", referring to something gentle or fragile. Today, "tendre" has retained this sense of softness or tenderness in modern French.