Gruyère Cheese Pronunciation

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Whether you’re fond of those Starbucks egg bites with bacon in them or came across it at a fancy dinner party, we’ve all come to know Gruyère cheese. But there’s a problem…

You have NO IDEA how to pronounce Gruyère cheese! And what really is Gruyère cheese anyway?

Trust me, you’re not alone. I had no idea either. And millions of others are also clueless too!

So, without further ado.

How to Pronounce Gruyère

Gruyère is pronounced “gru-yee-EHr” with a wide mouthed “EH”.

Let’s dissect this a bit.

Gruyère is a French word from the French speaking part of Switzerland. More on that later.

The “gru” and “yee” sections should be said quickly together so they sound more like “gree” than “groo” or “groo-yee”.

Now to the “EHr” at the end. Eh is literally the sound è makes. Say “air” with your mouth open widely to begin with. By open widely, I literally mean wide, not very open. That is, don’t drop your jaw when you’re opening your mouth widely to say it.

It’s easy to see why a commonly used, but inaccurate transcription of Gruyère is groo-yair. That said, you’ll do better than most pronouncing it that way.

If you really want to say it like the French or Swiss-French, you need to use a French gargled “r” at the end. This isn’t necessary, just be sure to pronounce the “r” at the end extra softly.

Gruyère Pronunciation Video

If reading all those sounds and instructions makes your head hurt, or you just don’t believe me, listen to a French winemaker say it in the video below.

How to Pronounce Gruyère? (CORRECTLY) Swiss French Pronunciation

What is Gruyère Cheese?

Gruyère is a semi-hard cow’s milk cheese originally from the town of Gruyères in Switzerland. It is generally cured for six months to a year. At six months, it’s creamy and nutty and grows more complex and earthy with added months of curing.

It’s pale yellow in color and has those iconic holes that Swiss cheese has, only much smaller. Gruyère is relatively mild flavored.

Gruyère must be produced in Switzerland to be called Gruyere, though there’s an ongoing U.S. court case on the topic. The one universally accepted exception being that which is produced in France, which must clearly be labeled as French Gruyère.

What is Gruyère Cheese best for?

Gruyère Cheese is best for its smooth melting talent can be put to use. It can commonly be found in French onion soup, fondue, croque monsieur, chicken cordon bleu and quiche among other dishes.

It also makes a great table cheese and pairs beautifully with a crisp white wine. Which means it should be a part of your next charcuterie board, now that you know how to say it.

How could I forget the Starbucks egg bites?! You can find our Starbucks Sous Vide Egg Bites Bacon Gruyère Recipe here. And if you need help on how to pronounce sous vide, we’re here for you.

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  • Rishi

    Rishi is an avid home chef and the owner-operator of Top Sous Vide. He's been cooking sous vide for over 7 years and loves experimenting with new foods. Whether it's a simple family dinner for his wife and 3 kids or an elaborate meal for a group of friends, his food is always a crowd pleaser!

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