French spelling question?
 

Actually a capitalization question. How to title an invitation?

Cocktail and Hors d'oeuvres Reception
or
Cocktail and Hors d'Oeuvres Reception

(note the "o")

Since your are writing in english, i suppose you should use the english rules.

French rules (but keeping the text inenglish) would give :
Coktail and hors d'oeuvres reception (initial capital, all the rest in lower cases since there are no names).

I guess I really have 2 questions. Next is should oeuvre be be plural?

So,

1. Cocktail and Hors d'oeuvre Reception
2. Cocktail and Hors d'Oeuvre Reception
3. Cocktail and Hors d'oeuvres Reception
4. Cocktail and Hors d'Oeuvres Reception

What's your vote???
Thanks, annieladd

I wouldn't think capitalisation is necessary in English either, and you could just say

Cocktails and hors d'oeuvres

(I'm reminded of the local Conservative Association who thought they ought to find a more amusing way of announcing a fundraising event, and found themselves explaining to the local paper "We thought if we called it a 'Wine and You Know What Party', people would know we meant wine and cheese - we had no idea they'd think up something else").

The french expression is hors d'oeuvres with a s (without, it doesn't make sense)

Never an "s" on "oeuvre": hors d'oeuvre means, literally, "outside the (main) work", so no "s". Bon appetit!(should have accent but I can't figure out how to get 'em on in this program!)

So I have one with an "s" and one without, yikes.

The caps are staying, so assuming that, does the "O" get a cap or not?

Thanks, annieladd

Why not just call them nibbles.

I vote for #3.

If this group can't decide, perhaps it doesn't matter as your guests might not know either.

The correct spelling would be hors d'oeuvre. You could always fudge and just say appetizers.

Why are you not using the plural cocktails? Are you planning to limit service to one only?

Anyhow, it sounds like the guests of honor for this reception are Cocktail and Hors d'Oeuvre!

If this is a printed reception (and I assume that you are receiving "someone", and so the cocktail and hors d'oeuvre offerings are just part of the occasion), then I would personally print

&lt;--center--&gt;<b>Reception</b>&lt;--center--&gt;
&lt;--c--&gt;honoring Xxx and Yyy Zzzzzzzz&lt;--c--&gt;
and then, in a smaller font...
Cocktail and hors d'oeuvre service from x to y pm

You could even add &quot;Invitation designed by committee, courtesy of Fodors.com&quot; if you wish...

:)

Best wishes,

Rex

I don't speak French but I think the s added at the end does plural it. also i don't think any of the letters need to be capitalized.

but i don't think it is necessary to worry either way.

Cocktails and hors d'oeuvre

or

Cocktails et hors d'oeuvre

But personally I'd make it even poncier by saying:

Cocktails et amuses bouches

crap, crap, crap! Made a mistake:

Cocktails et amuses bouche...

interesting....my dictionary reads:
amuse-geule (pl. amuse-gueules)&quot;

.....though I agree that the current usage of bouche sounds more refined,,, if logic follows, wouldn't that be a hyphenated word as well? i.e. amuse-bouche/amuse-bouches???

Drats! that should read &quot;gueule&quot;!

By the way hors d'oeuvres means starters : do you intend to present your guests with just starters and let them eat the rest of the meal somewhere else ?
What is served with ap&eacute;ritifs (coktails) is amuse-geule (no s, each person has only one mug)

Even for the French, &quot;gueule&quot; is a difficult word to spell! :)

A cocktail with hors d'oeuvre would be called a &quot;Lunch&quot; in France (until 2 pm) and just &quot;un cocktail&quot; from 5 pm to dinner time. It implies that some
food will be served with the drinks.

As Norween said, using the word &quot;hors d'oeuvre&quot; suggests that the rest of the meal will come later, but where??

You could write &quot;cocktail and canap&eacute;s&quot;