bourbon

bourbon (whiskey)

noun boor-BOHN Rare

Usage Note

Bourbon in French refers to the American whiskey style, borrowed directly from English. It is treated as masculine and is invariable in spelling. The word also appears in the historical name les Bourbons, the French royal dynasty, but that is a proper noun and a distinct usage. In bars, it is ordered as un bourbon.

Examples

"Il commande un bourbon avec des glaçons."

Natural Translation

He orders a bourbon on the rocks.

Literal Translation

He orders a bourbon with ice cubes.

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