café au lait

noun

ca·​fé au lait (ˌ)ka-ˈfā-ō-ˈlā 

1

: coffee with usually hot milk in about equal parts

2

: the color of coffee with milk

Examples of café au lait in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The big picture: Kardashian and Barker were seen eating beignets and a hot beverage (hopefully a cafe au lait) inside the iconic French Quarter restaurant. —Carlie Kollath Wells, Axios, 7 Feb. 2025

First time in New Orleans Eat: Head to Cafe du Monde in the French Quarter or City Park for beignets, and wash them down with a cafe au lait. —Carlie Kollath Wells, Axios, 7 Feb. 2025

That starts with small bites, including his calas, also known as Creole rice fritters, traditionally a sweet breakfast dish served with cafe au lait. —Louisa Kung Liu Chu, Chicago Tribune, 27 Jan. 2025

Beignets and cafe au lait are a perfect pairing, and no one does them better. —Chelsea Brasted, Axios, 26 Nov. 2024

Nineteen-year-old Finn picked up on the sweetness of Mind Games Prodigy, a gourmand conceived to evoke the inviting warmth of a cafe au lait. —Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 4 Sep. 2024

Always, someone was standing sentinel at the bar, ready to serve a cafe au lait or an aperitif. —Vogue, 8 July 2024

It can also be served alongside cafe au lait if following the French tradition. —Ronny Maye, Essence, 12 Feb. 2024

Choose from almond, chocolate, pistachio, strawberry, blackberry citrus, vanilla, cafe au lait, and salted caramel. —Moriah Mason, Southern Living, 14 Nov. 2023

Word History

Etymology

French, coffee with milk

First Known Use

1763, in the meaning defined at sense 1