menu
MEHN-yoo
Menu (noun) means a list of food and drinks available at a restaurant, café, or event. Example: “We studied the menu before deciding on the tasting course.”
noun
1
A list of food and drinks available at a restaurant, café, or event.
"We studied the menu before deciding on the tasting course."
"The chef changes the menu with the seasons."
"The waiter handed us a menu and said he would return shortly."
2
In computing, a list of options a user can choose from, typically on screen.
"Click the settings icon to open the main menu."
"Open the file menu and choose the option to save your work."
"A drop-down menu appears when you hover over the button."
How to use menu
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA list of choices — of food at a restaurant, or of options on a computer or device.
Common pairings
dinner menu
drop-down menu
tasting menu
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like menu.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- menus
- Third person singular
- menus
- Past tense
- menued
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
We studied the _____ before deciding on the tasting course.
Etymology
Borrowed from French menu ("small, detailed"), from Latin minūtus — the same root as "minute" (small).
Related words
Rhymes for menu
See all rhymes for menu →Frequently asked questions
What does “menu” mean?
The word “menu” means a list of food and drinks available at a restaurant, café, or event. In plain terms, a list of choices — of food at a restaurant, or of options on a computer or device.
How do you pronounce “menu”?
“Menu” is pronounced MEHN-yoo (/ˈmɛn.ju/ in IPA).
How do you use “menu” in a sentence?
Here is “menu” used in a sentence: “We studied the menu before deciding on the tasting course.”
What part of speech is “menu”?
“Menu” is a noun.
Where does the word “menu” come from?
The word “menu” comes from Latin. Borrowed from French menu ("small, detailed"), from Latin minūtus — the same root as "minute" (small).
Is “menu” a common word?
“Menu” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “menu” have?
“Menu” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a list of food and drinks available at a restaurant, café, or event.
What is the difference between a "menu" and "à la carte"?
A "menu" is the full list of food and drinks a restaurant offers, while "à la carte" refers to ordering individual dishes that are each priced separately rather than as a set meal. A fixed "set menu" instead offers a chosen selection at one price.
What is the difference between a "menu" and a "recipe"?
A "menu" lists the dishes available or planned for a meal, while a "recipe" gives the ingredients and instructions for making a single dish. You choose from a menu, but you follow a recipe.
What are common collocations with "menu"?
Common collocations include "set menu," "tasting menu," "drop-down menu," and "menu bar." The first two relate to food, while the last two belong to computing.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include menu:
